Department for Transport

Driving under Influence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many deaths were caused by drink driving in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last five years.

Andrew Jones: There were 1,330 fatalities over 2009 to 2013 in reported road accidents in Great Britain, in which at least one driver was over the drink drive limit. The Department does not collect this information for Northern Ireland therefore an overall figure for the United Kingdom is not available. The estimated number of fatalities in reported drink drive accidents by Great Britain region for the years 2009 – 2013 are shown in the following table:   20092010201120122013North East1010101020North West4030302030Yorkshire & the Humber3020203030East Midlands4030202020West Midlands5010203020East3020202030South East5050403030London2010101020South West5030303030England320200200210210Wales3010101020Scotland3020201020Total380240240230240 The figures include an estimate for drivers with an unknown blood alcohol content. The statistics are rounded to nearest ten to reflect this uncertainty. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Figures for 2014 are to be published at the beginning of August 2016.

Driving under Influence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a zero-tolerance policy for drink driving for commercial drivers in England and Wales.

Andrew Jones: The Government has no plans to lower the drink drive limit in England and Wales - this includes for commercial drivers. We believe that rigorous enforcement and serious penalties for drink drivers are a more effective deterrent than changing the drink driving limit.

Transport: Infrastructure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to ensure that (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other parts of the UK benefit from transport infrastructure improvements.

Mr Robert Goodwill: UK Government investment in projects such as HS2, electrification of the Great Western Main Line and the £350 million pledged for infrastructure as part of the Stormont House Agreement will benefit the UK. In addition, the Devolution settlements provide the funding and the powers to enable the respective governments to decide on appropriate infrastructure investment in their administrations.

Railways: Compensation

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which month he expects the new arrangements for rail passenger refunds following delays to be announced.

Claire Perry: We are committed to improving compensation arrangements for passengers. The Chancellor announced in his Autumn 2015 Spending Review that passengers will soon have access to compensation when trains are over 15 minutes late. We expect to make an announcement on this in the coming months.

Large Goods Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37865, on large goods vehicles, when he expects officials of his Department to report to him on steps to improve the provision and quality of roadside facilities.

Andrew Jones: The Department is currently working on what can be done to work with the industry to improve the provision and quality of roadside facilities, which will also need to take account of research being currently undertaken by Transport Focus. I anticipate that officials will be able to provide advice on the next steps this summer.

Roads: Lighting

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has commissioned or undertaken on the safety of LED lights and other new technologies as a replacement for cat's eyes on roads.

Andrew Jones: No research has been commissioned or undertaken by the Department on the safety of active road studs with LED lights or other new technologies as a replacement for traditional road studs with reflectors.

Cycling: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37870, whether the figures for his Department's spending on cycling programmes are in real terms.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37869, whether the figures for his Department's spending on walking programmes are in real terms.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The figures given to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37870 and Question 37869 are in cash terms, not real terms.

Bus Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason his Department does not include bus occupants as a road user type in its quarterly road casualty statistics.

Andrew Jones: The Department produces annual figures for bus occupant casualties in June each year which are based on complete data returns from police forces. Provisional quarterly road casualty statistics however are based on incomplete data returns from police forces and bus occupants only account for a very small share of road casualties. Although allowances are made for the missing data, casualty estimates for this group are subject to higher levels of uncertainty than for the main road user types (car occupants, motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and pedestrians). Producing separate figures for bus occupants in the provisional quarterly estimates would result in misleading figures. Instead a single set of figures are estimated for all other road user types, including bus occupant, heavy goods vehicle occupants, van occupant, and other casualties.

Bus Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to make buses more environmentally friendly.

Andrew Jones: The Government has introduced several measures to encourage the uptake of environmentally friendly buses.The Low Emission Bus Scheme (LEBS), announced last year, will provide over £30m to help buy several hundred low emission buses. These low emission buses will need to produce at least 15% less greenhouse gas emissions than the average modern diesel bus and meet strict emissions standards. The winners of LEBS will be announced soon, building on the success of the Green Bus Fund, which ran to 2014. Under the Green Bus Fund, £89million of Government funding helped to purchase over 1,200 green buses. The Government is also encouraging the uptake of greener vehicles through the Bus Service Operators Grant low carbon emission bus incentive under which eligible services receive an additional 6p per kilometre to the 34.57p. The Bus Services Bill, which was introduced into the House of Lords on 19th May, will provide local transport authorities with new powers to specify the emission standards to be met by local bus services – including through franchising and, with sufficient support from bus operators, under enhanced partnership arrangements. The Government has also invested over £26million since 2011 under the Clean Bus and Clean Vehicle Technology Funds for local authorities in pollution hotspots across England to retrofit 1000’s of buses, and other vehicles, with pollution reducing technology. This includes converting some buses to either natural gas or to electric propulsion.

Bus Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason his Department does not collect and publish data on the number of different types of buses operating in England.

Andrew Jones: The Department’s annual bus survey collects data from local bus operators on the number of buses used as Public Service Vehicles, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/463857/bus0602.xls. The Department also publishes vehicle registration statistics for the UK, based on information available through the registration process with the DVLA, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vehicles-statistics. These include tables on the numbers of licensed buses and coaches disaggregated by make and by various other vehicle characteristics, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/vehicles-statistical-tables-index.

Cycling: Helmets

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to make it a legal requirement for cyclists to wear helmets.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Government policy is that cycle helmets offer a degree of protection for cyclists in the event of a fall from a bicycle and some types of collisions. This is in line with the Highway Code rule 59 which states “you should wear a cycle helmet which conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and securely fastened” We encourage the use of helmets by all cyclists and in particular by children. However, people and parents are free to choose whether to follow this advice and we have no plans to legislate to introduce a mandatory requirement for the wearing of cycle helmets.

Aviation: Drunkenness

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of incidents of drunkenness on aeroplanes in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government does not collect specific data on the frequency of incidents involving drunk passengers on aircraft. As such, no estimates have been made.

Electric Vehicles

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's press release of 27 March 2015, Government revs up motorcycle market, if he will implement grants for the purchase of electronic motorcycles.

Andrew Jones: The Government remains committed to supporting the UK’s zero emission motorcycle industry. We have been working with stakeholders on the details of the most suitable scheme and will make a further announcement shortly.

M1: Barnet

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the level of vehicular noise on the M1 passing Mill Hill town.

Andrew Jones: In response to the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provided noise maps for transport sources such as roads, which identify noise ‘Important Areas’, the most seriously affected locations. Those which are located next to the trunk road and motorway network in England are required to be investigated by Highways England. Between the A41 near Apex Corner and M1 junction 2 in the Mill Hill area, four locations on the M1 have been identified as being noise ‘Important Areas’. Highways England are continuing investigations into these sites, including a study at a location opposite Mill Hill Broadway station to see if a noise barrier is practical here, which is expected to be completed by March 2017.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Performance Standards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been paid in fines by Govia Thamelink Railway to his Department to compensate for poor performance in each of the last three years.

Claire Perry: Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR’s) provision of services for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise only began on 14 September 2014, with Southern services included from 26 July 2015. There is an incentive/penalty regime in place and this has seen just over £2 million levied against GTR in respect of their Cancellation and Short-Formation performance benchmarks.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been paid in fines by Network Rail to Govia Thamelink Railway to  compensate for poor performance in each of the last three years.

Claire Perry: Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR's) provision of services for the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise only began on 14 September 2014, with Southern services included from 26 July 2015.Network Rail’s performance is regulated by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), who have agreed a £4.1m package of improvements to be delivered by Network Rail on the Southern part of GTR franchise area in order to address performance issues.There is a compensation and incentive regime element within the Track Access Agreement between Network Rail and each operator, and this is overseen by the ORR.

Roads: Noise

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of planting noise barriers with vegetation alongside motorways and trunk roads.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport has made no recent assessment of the merits of planting noise barriers with vegetation alongside motorways and trunk roads. Guidance on the design of noise barriers, which includes vegetated barriers, is contained within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges:http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/ha/standards/DMRB/vol10/section5.htm

M1: Barnet

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of installing a continuous noise barrier on the eastern side of the M1 passing through Mill Hill.

Andrew Jones: On the M1 between the A41 near Apex Corner and M1 junction 2 in the Mill Hill area, four areas are identified by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs noise mapping process as being noise ‘Important Areas’ which require further investigation. One of these areas is located along the M1 southbound carriageway from the beginning of Station Road to Woodland Way, opposite Mill Hill Broadway station and is currently being studied to see if a noise barrier is practical here. There are a number of issues to be investigated, including whether a barrier can be put in place over a structure and along an embankment.

Driving Tests: Age

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the age requirements for the driving test were last reviewed.

Andrew Jones: The minimum age for driving tests were last reviewed in 2010 following a widespread public consultation in 2009 on changes to the driver licensing and testing regime. The possible changes included amongst others, minimum ages, medical requirements, driving licence security and driving test vehicle requirements. The Government currently has no plans to alter minimum ages.

Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with trades unions officials representing Highways England traffic officers on the potential danger of serious injury or death arising from trying to move a heavy goods vehicle from a live lane using a Highways England traffic officer 4 by 4 vehicle.

Andrew Jones: The Trade Union that represents Highways England Traffic Officers was consulted throughout the life of the enhanced carriageway clearance project, which focused on carriageway clearance of vehicles of all types. Trade Union representatives attended a number of meetings and specific workshops.

Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much compensation has been paid from the public purse to owners of heavy goods vehicles damaged as a result of being moved by Highways England traffic officers from live lanes to (a) hard shoulders and (b) emergency refuge areas in the last 12 months.

Andrew Jones: Highways England has not received any claims relating to heavy goods vehicles damaged as a result of being moved by Highways England traffic officers in the last 12 months. Hence, no compensation has been paid.

Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Highways England traffic officers have moved heavy goods vehicles from live lanes to (a) hard shoulders and (b) emergency refuge areas in the last 12 months.

Andrew Jones: Highways England does not specifically record how many Highways England traffic officers have moved heavy goods vehicles from live lanes to hard shoulders or emergency refuge areas.

Large Goods Vehicles: Accidents

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Highways England traffic officers have been (a) trained to move heavy goods vehicles from live motorway lanes on Smart motorways to emergency refuge areas and (b) not so trained but issued with an instruction manual to move such vehicles.

Andrew Jones: As at 6 June 2016, 910 Highways England Traffic Officers have been trained in the activity of carriageway clearance. This training is appropriate for all vehicle types as it is designed to provide specific criteria which Traffic Officers must follow to determine whether it is safe to remove any vehicle from a carriageway to a place of relative safety. In addition, all Traffic Officers who work on smart motorway sections are trained in the specifics of that operational environment before they are designated as safe to operate. No operational activity is undertaken by Highways England Traffic Officers without appropriate training and supporting safe systems of work.

Biofuels

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a study into the potential merits of the use of E10 petrol.

Andrew Jones: The revised industry fuel standard for petrol (EN228), agreed and published by the British Standards Institution in 2013, allows up to ten per cent bioethanol content (known as ‘E10’). However, E10 is not yet on general sale in the UK and whether to supply it is a commercial decision for suppliers. The Transport Energy Task Force, made up of experts from industry and environmental NGOs, reported its findings to the Department for Transport in March 2015. The report, which included recommendations relating to E10, is available on the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership’s website at:http://www.lowcvp.org.uk/projects/transport-energy-task-force.htm

Govia Thameslink Railway: Performance Standards

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern contractual breach notice, dated 7 July 2015.

Claire Perry: A copy will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Performance Standards

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties he is able to levy on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchisee if the terms of that franchise are breached or its performance is judged to be inadequate; and whether any such penalties have been imposed since that franchise commenced.

Claire Perry: The “Enforcement Policy: Rail Franchise Agreements and Closures” sets out what actions can be taken; a copy of this is attached, and a copy will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.



Enforcement Policy Document
(PDF Document, 6.71 MB)

Crossrail 2 Line

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to assess the case for the proposed Crossrail 2 Eastern Phase.

Mr Robert Goodwill: No final decisions have yet been taken on the Crossrail 2 route. We have safeguarded a route from Angel to Hackney Central, which could form an eastern branch of Crossrail 2 at a later phase of the project, should there be a good business case and funding available for it. However, this is not being assessed as part of the core scheme under current consideration.

Bus Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential environmental and safety benefits of using single rather than double-decker buses during off-peak times on journeys with small numbers of passengers.

Andrew Jones: Whether to use single- or double-decker buses must be an operational decision for local bus operators. They are in the best position to understand and appreciate which type of vehicle to use on their bus routes, at which times during the day. The Government is committed to helping local bus operators to operate more environmentally friendly buses. Measures such as the Green Bus Fund, awarded £89m from 2009-2014 for over 1200 low emission buses, including both single and double-decker buses. The £30m Low Emission Bus Scheme, announced last year, is available to fund both single- and double-decker low emission buses and supporting infrastructure.

Taxis: Insurance

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cars and drivers for (a) Uber and (b) other private hire companies are adequately insured.

Andrew Jones: Taxis and private hire vehicles require insurance that covers their use for hire and reward activity. Driving without valid insurance is an offence, for which penalties, including fines and points on a licence, are ultimately a matter for the courts. Drivers for and cars used by Uber and other private hire companies must meet the requirements that are set by their local licensing authority in order to operate.

Level Crossings

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 37816, on level crossings, what his Department's expenditure on the level crossing reform programme was in the last Parliament; and how much such expenditure is budgeted in the current Parliament.

Claire Perry: Network Rail has closed almost 1,000 level crossings since 2009 and the Department is supporting its on-going risk reduction programme through a dedicated £99 million fund during 2014-19 to secure further improvements.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost to the public purse was of preparing and publishing the (a) Bowe Report into the planning of Network Rail's enhancements programme published on 25 November 2015 and (b) Hendy Report on Replanning Network Rail's Investment programme, published January 2016.

Claire Perry: The estimated cost to the public purse for preparing and publishing the a) Bowe Report published on 25 November 2015 was £1,500, associated with type setting and printing; andb) Consultation on the Hendy Report, published January 2016 was zero.

Travel

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 24 November 2014 to Question 214853, on travel, whether his Department has produced an updated National Transport Model estimate of future (a) annual trips by mode per person and (b) average length of trips by mode.

Andrew Jones: The Department last published forecasts of road traffic in 2015 www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-traffic-forecasts-2015. Estimates of future trips by mode in the format set out in UIN 214853 were not in this publication but are set out below for one of our five forecast scenarios (scenario 1) Average Trips per person annually by mode (GB, RTF15 Scenario 1)Annual tripsWalkCycleCar DriverCar PassengerBusRailTotal2015307.022.1453.4228.184.924.41,119.92020302.321.1468.3223.779.323.91,118.52025298.220.1483.1219.573.323.21,117.42030296.120.0488.2216.471.523.71,115.92035291.720.6497.0215.067.023.51,114.82040290.420.5503.9213.864.824.11,117.5 Average length of trips by mode (GB, RTF15 Scenario 1)miles WalkCycleCar DriverCar PassengerBusRailTotal20150.82.59.010.07.824.67.120200.82.49.110.07.924.57.220250.82.39.210.18.124.57.220300.82.39.210.18.124.67.320350.82.29.210.18.324.57.320400.82.29.210.18.624.77.3 Notes on the tables:These are for personal trips based on main mode of travel. The National Transport Model (NTM) does not produce mode information for different stages of the same trip.These estimates are based on scenario 1 in the Road Traffic Forecasts 2015 (see www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-traffic-forecasts-2015).Figures are for Great Britain and so cannot be directly compared to published National Travel Survey statistics on average trips and trip lengths by mode, which are for England only.The estimated number of walking trips is higher than latest National Travel Survey statistics. This is due to the estimates being based on older NTS data when walking trips were at a higher level. Forecasts for car travel are calibrated to actual traffic statistics so are not considered to be affected by this variance.The forecasts do not account for the Departments Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which was still in development when these forecasts were estimated.There were five scenarios published in RTF15. Scenario 1 has been presented here for consistency with the methodology used in the answer to UIN 214853. The other scenarios are based on alternative forecasting assumptions and will produce different forecast numbers of trips.The NTM road traffic forecasts are based on our understanding of the way people make travel choices, the expected path of the key drivers and travel behaviour at the time the forecast is made and assume no change in government policy beyond that already announced.Estimates of future trips and trip lengths by modes other than car travel are calculated solely for the purpose of forecasting traffic, and are not used as forecasts by the Department for policy or appraisal purposes.The NTM is not the Department’s primary forecasting tool for rail. The forecasts will not match with rail forecasts the Department has published elsewhere.The National Transport Model is being updated to incorporate latest data on travel behaviour, including on mode of travel and distances travelled.

Railways: North Yorkshire

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward planned improvements to the Northern Rail service between Scarborough and York that are due to take place in 2019.

Andrew Jones: The possibility of bringing forward the planned improvement to this route was fully explored with Arriva Rail North during the closing phases of the franchising process in late 2015 and was not considered achievable. This position has currently not changed, but should it do so then earlier implementation would then be considered with the franchisee.

Railways: Electrification

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the inclusion of the Northallerton to Teesport line in the rail electrification scheme.

Andrew Jones: The Transpennine Route Upgrade is an ambitious and challenging programme which is due to be delivered by December 2022. There are currently no plans within this scope to electrify the line between Northallerton and Teesport. However, this does not preclude the thinking of future electrification as a further phase following the delivery of the current scope in 2022. I can confirm that the current assumption for services between Manchester and Middlesbrough is that these will operated by new bi-mode trains i.e. capable of diesel and electric operation. The new bi-mode will offer significant journey time savings for passengers on this route.

Transport

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the evidence given by the Minister of State for Transport to the EU Internal Market Sub-Committee on 18 April 2016, what the (a) purpose, (b) membership and (c) date of the last meeting of the new forum the Government has established is.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The purpose of the forum is to provide a means to consult, and gather external stakeholder input, in order to inform and influence the development of future unmanned aircraft systems aviation policy, regulation and legislation at a national and international level. The aim is to develop a richer and deeper interaction with external stakeholders which commences early in the regulatory development process. The forum met on the 11th May 2016, and was attended by the Civil Aviation Authority, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, the British Model Flying Association, ADS Group, the Military Aviation Authority, the Department for Transport, Sussex Police, the Association of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, the Airport Operators Association, First Person View, the British Airline Pilots Association, BSI Group, with apologies from NATS.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Franchises

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he agreed to a variation of the franchise contract with Govia Thameslink Railway in respect of Southern Railway; and what consultation took place with hon. Members before he agreed that variation.

Claire Perry: The Remedial Plan and associated contract variation was agreed on the 12 February. We do not normally notify hon. Members with regard to contract change(s) to Franchise Agreements, as this is considered to be business as usual for the Department. The Remedial Plan prepared in response to the notice issued by the Department for Transport under Section 55 of the Railways Act on 7th July 2015 was published online on the 26 May at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/525767/govia-thameslink-remedial-plan.pdf

Bus Services: Disability

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the amount spent by his Department on audio-visual systems intended for buses in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Department has not funded audio/visual equipment on buses, but we understand the importance of accessible on-board information to many passengers, including those who are visually impaired, and have supported initiatives to develop innovative and low-cost approaches for delivering it. For instance, we worked with the Transport Systems Catapult on the All Aboard Competition, resulting in the development of a prototype vibrating wristband which alerts users to upcoming stops. Many bus operators have already embraced audible and visual next stop announcements, and I encourage the wider industry to consider the potential benefit for all of its customers.

Public Transport: Disability

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing public transport infrastructure for people with sight and hearing loss; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Accessible public transport is vital in enabling people who are visually or hearing impaired, as well as other disabled people, to live and work with independence and dignity. The Department has committed to publishing an accessibility action plan to improve access to public transport and contribute to halving the employment gap between non-disabled and disabled people. Throughout its development we are working with the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and organisations representing the interests of disabled people, including those who are visually and hearing impaired, helping us to understand what works well, and what barriers still remain.

Bus Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which bus operators his Department has (a) met and (b) otherwise engaged with during the last six months on the Bus Services Bill.

Andrew Jones: All bus operators that attended the workshops in the autumn of last year, have been updated during the progress of the development of the Bus Services Bill. Officials continue to engage with both large and small bus operators via the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Association of Local Bus Company Managers on a regular basis. Annex A of the Bus Reform Workshop summary contains a list of organisations represented:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/496182/bus_reform_workshops_summary.pdf.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Rented Housing: Domestic Appliances

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to bring forward regulations on the testing of electrical installations in rental properties.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is committed to protecting tenants and, as part of this, introduced an enabling power into the Housing and Planning Act 2016, allowing regulations to protect private sector tenants from electrical hazards in the home to be set. We are currently conducting further research and working with the sector to understand what, if any, legislative requirements are needed and envisage this work being completed this year. This will ensure any introductions are beneficial and strike the right balance by protecting tenants while not over burdening the sector.

Local Government Finance

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 24 March 2016 to Question 32596, if he will place in the Library the spreadsheet used to calculate the allocation of the 2016-17 transition grant to individual authorities.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Secretary of State has published an explanatory note setting out the method of calculation of the Transition Grant. Copies have been made available in the libraries of both Houses. It is available to view at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510870/Explanatory_note_on_the_allocation_of_the_Transition_Grant.pdf.The spreadsheet showing individual authority allocations was published on 8 February as part of the Core Spending Power: Supporting Information tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corespending-power-final-local-government-finance-settlement-2016-to-2017.

Social Rented Housing: Disability

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is his policy to require social housing providers to ensure that a proportion of their properties are adapted for disabled residents.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government already has measures in place to help people with disabilities to live independently. It has committed to support disabled people to live safely in independent accommodation suitable to their needs by investing over £1 billion pounds through Disabled Facilities Grant since 2010.There are no plans to require local authorities to require social housing providers to ensure that a proportion of their properties are adapted for disabled residents.The Government is also investing over £200 million to develop over 4,000 affordable homes providing specialised accommodation for older people and adults with physical disabilities, learning difficulties or mental health needs, through the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund. The statutory ‘reasonable preference’ requirements ensure that priority for social housing is given to those who need to move on medical and welfare grounds, including grounds relating to a disability.

Affordable Housing

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 33503, in what locations his Department plans to deliver the 400,000 affordable homes referred to in that Answer; and at what level a home will be defined as affordable in (a) London and (b) England.

Brandon Lewis: The 400,000 affordable homes will include:200,000 Starter Homes135,000 Help to Buy: Shared Ownership homes10,000 homes which allow tenants to save for a deposit while they rent8,000 specialist homes for older people and people with disabilities.We do not pre-determine how much affordable housing funding is allocated to different areas. Local Authorities will set out their affordable housing requirements as part of the planning process.The definition of affordable housing is set out in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6077/2116950.pdf.

Affordable Housing

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 36790, what plans his Department has to review progress under its voluntary agreement with the National Housing Federation and housing associations on replacing homes sold under right-to-buy with new affordable homes.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is working with the National Housing Federation and housing associations on the detailed design of the scheme, including data collection necessary for reviewing progress.

Local Plans

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to adopt the recommendations made in the Local Plans Expert Group report, published in March 2016.

Brandon Lewis: The Local Plans Expert Group published their report on 16 March 2016, and this was open for representations until 27 April.We are committed to streamlining the plan-making process and are carefully considering the report and representations received.

Local Plans: South East

Kelly Tolhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the conclusion of the report by the Local Plans Expert Group, published in March 2016, paragraph s15, that local plans in the South East may not enable the full scale of housing need to be met.

Brandon Lewis: The National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to identify and plan for the housing needs in their area. Planning guidance is clear that Green Belt and other constraints may restrict the ability of an individual authority to meet its need.The Framework is clear that the supply of new homes may be delivered by larger scale development, such as new settlements or urban extensions, and the Government is supporting new locally led garden towns and villages in places where communities want them.The Local Plans Expert Group published their report on 16 March 2016, and this was open for representations until 27 April. The report and representations are receiving careful consideration and a further statement will be made in due course.

Noise: Multiple Occupation

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures are in place to prevent excessive noise from houses in multiple occupation.

Brandon Lewis: Local authorities have existing statutory powers to tackle excessive noise from residential properties including Houses in Multiple Occupation. Where a property has been proven to be a statutory nuisance through excessive noise, councils must serve an abatement notice on the people responsible for the statutory nuisance, or, if this is not possible, on a premises owner or occupier. Failure to comply with the notice can result in prosecution and a fine.

Communities and Local Government: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of officials of his Department working on decentralisation and growth are based in London.

Mr Mark Francois: Decentralisation and growth are cross-governmental issues, supported by officials in all relevant departments.The Cities and Local Growth Unit is a joint BIS-DCLG team that supports areas in developing and agreeing devolution deals with the Government. It currently has approximately 140 officials working on a range of devolution and growth agendas, with just over 60 of these officials in six local teams based across the country.

Housing: Immigrants

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the increase in demand on housing caused by inward migration in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: The Department has not made an estimate of the historic demand on housing caused by inward migration in each of the last 10 years.

Households: Nationality

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library the raw data from each English Housing Survey detailing the nationalities of the Household Representative Person.

Brandon Lewis: Raw data from the English Housing Survey are publicly available via the UK Data Service (archive for survey and economic data). These publicly available datasets undergo rigorous disclosure control to ensure the anonymity of our respondents is protected and, as such, do not include individual level nationality data.

Local Government: Devolution

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36419, if he will set out the actions required of an hon. Member, including the number of parliamentary questions asked, contributions to debate and other relevant matters which are deemed to demonstrate sufficient interest in devolution, for such hon. Members to be invited to meetings on future plans for the area they represent.

James Wharton: I would welcome a proactive and enthusiastic approach to involvement on devolution matters and associated opportunities locally, with which my department stands ready to engage. It is for hon. Members to determine for themselves what that involves.

Housing: Foreign Nationals

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the total number and proportion of dwellings in the UK occupied with the Households Representative Person being a foreign national from (a) another EU member state and (b) a non-EU country in each of the last 10 years.

Brandon Lewis: The department collects details on the nationality of all household reference persons in the English Housing Survey. However, the sample size of the English Housing Survey does not permit us to report detailed nationality statistics.

Housing: Immigrants

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the additional new housing required to address demand caused by immigration from (a) other EU member states and (b) non-EU member states in each year to 2030.

Brandon Lewis: The Department has not made an estimate of the additional new housing needed to provide accommodation for immigrants from EU and non-EU countries.Housing needs are assessed by local authorities based on local need, and Government does not set figures.

Housing Associations: Demolition

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many housing associations have demolished residential buildings that are less than 10 years old in each of the last five years; and what the reasons were for those demolitions.

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.

Demolition: Greater London

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Homes and Communities Agency and (b) Wandle Housing Association Limited on the demolition of residential buildings in Solomon's Passage, Peckham.

Brandon Lewis: None. The Regulator is aware of the issues relating to Solomon’s Passage in Peckham. They are currently considering the information provided by Wandle Housing Association in line with our processes for dealing with referrals related to the consumer standards.

Exercise

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of all local authority spending was spent on physical activity services in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the variation in spending by each local authority on physical activity services per capita.

Mr Marcus Jones: Information for 2014-15 is available in tables RO3 (Social care and Public Health) and RS (Revenue Summary) available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing-england-2014-to-2015-individual-local-authority-data-outturnLocal authorities receive a ring-fenced public health grant from the Department for Health but physical activity is a non-prescribed public health function. Local authorities are best placed to assess and deliver the services their communities need and are locally accountable for those decisions, therefore this spending has not been formally analysed by the department.

Communities and Local Government: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many of his Department's civil servants were based in Coventry in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: My Department has not had any civil servants based in Coventry in the last five years, or in fact since the department was created under the last Labour government.My Department has 16 offices across England, with staff working to drive up housing supply, increase the number of home owners, boost local growth and support strong communities with excellent public services. We have 69 employees in the West Midlands in our Birmingham office.

House of Commons Commission

Palace of Westminster: Police

Frank Field: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what the budget was for the out-of-hours taxi service for armed police officers working in the House in each of the last five years; and on how many occasions that service was used in each of those years.

Tom Brake: Prior to 1 April 2016 the House paid for all Metropolitan Police Staff (MPS) required by business to stay until 11pm or later. This included police officers, armed police and civilian security officers. Data is not held according to job role and, therefore, it is not possible to provide the data in the format requested.Following a change that the MPS put in place to the police officer rosters as well as the new police contract which came into effect on 1 April 2016, police officers, including armed officers, no longer use late night transport paid for by the two Houses.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Overseas Trade: Colombia

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK businesses operating in Colombia respect the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights sets out how the Government is implementing the UN Guiding Principles. British firms are expected to uphold these principles in their overseas operations, as well as in the UK. It is for each country to implement a National Action Plan to ensure compliance with the Guiding Principles.We worked closely with the Colombian authorities to develop their National Action Plan, published in December. All companies operating in Colombia, including British ones, should comply with the requirements and guidelines set out in that National Action Plan.The Minister for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, the Lord Price of Sturminster Newton, launched a campaign for British businesses to support peace, primarily through respect for human rights, during his visit to Colombia last month. Twenty of the largest British companies operating in Colombia subsequently agreed to align themselves to the Colombian National Action Plan for business and human rights.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information the Government has provided to British citizens living abroad who are eligible to vote in the EU referendum on that referendum.

Mr David Lidington: Before the purdah period began, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) supported the Electoral Commission's global campaign to encourage eligible British citizens living abroad to register to vote, using its network of posts to reach British nationals around the world.The Government has made its position on the UK’s membership of the EU clear. It has published a number of papers analysing the choice facing the British people. These were made available on Gov.UK.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many civil servants in his Department are paid through limited companies.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not pay any of its civil servants through a limited company.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Publications

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department and its executive agencies spent on the publications (a) Who's Who, (b) Burke's Peerage and (c) Debrett's in each year since 2010.

Mr David Lidington: This information is not recorded centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Colombia: Human Rights

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Colombia.

Mr Hugo Swire: Colombia is named as a priority country in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.Human rights violations and abuses remain a concern, including sexual violence, internal displacement, forced disappearances and targeting of HRDs. I am concerned at reports that 63 HRDs were killed in 2015, a 13% increase from 2014. I raised this issue with President Santos on 12 May.The FCO publishes twice-yearly updates on the human rights situation in Colombia on the Gov.uk website. The most recent report cann be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-in-year-update-december-2015.I welcome the Colombian Government's genuine effort to address human rights concerns. We support their efforts and have prioritised the protection of human rights defenders; the promotion of business and human rights; and the Preventing Sexual Violence Iniative (PSVI). We helped Colombia draft its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, published in December, the first outside Europe.We are committed to supporting Colombia as part of the ongoing peace process negotiations to ensure the safety of its people and long term stability across the country.

Colombia

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what issues the Government plans to discuss with the President of Colombia during his state visit to the UK in November 2016.

Mr Hugo Swire: The State Visit presents an opportunity for the Government to continue our engagement with the Government of Colombia on a wide variety of themes, including: regional stability; peace and security; trade and investment; science and education; and the environment.

Colombia: Peace Negotiations

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the peace process in Colombia.

Mr Hugo Swire: We strongly support the ongoing peace talks between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). I reiterated the UK’s support for the peace process when I met President Santos on 12 May, as did the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), during his visit to Colombia in April.We have offered advice to the Colombian Government based on our experience in Northern Ireland, which is welcomed by President Santos. The UK supported Colombia in drafting and steering UN Resolution 2261 through the Security Council in January, receiving unanimous support.Through Conflict, Security and Stability Fund, we have contributed £4.2 million to a UN post-conflict trust fund. The UN trust fund will increase the Colombian Government’s capacity and resources to fully implement the peace agreement, addressing issues such as food security, the removal of landmines and the strengthening of the judicial system.

Religious Freedom

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the appointment of an EU Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU.

Mr David Lidington: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



The Government notes the designation of Mr Jan Figel as special advisor to Commissioner Mimica on religious issues. We look forward to the presentation of his proposed mandate for discussion by EU Member States’ human rights experts. The Government is strongly committed to the defence of freedom of religion or belief globally and will work to ensure that Mr Figel’s appointment contributes to this goal.

Andargachew Tsege

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made on the case of Andargachew Tsege and efforts to ensure proper legal and consular access for Mr Tsege and visitation rights for his family.

James Duddridge: The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised Mr Tsege’s case with the Ethiopian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister during his visit to Ethiopia on 1 June 2016. The Foreign Secretary received assurances that Mr Tsege will be allowed access to independent legal advice to allow him to discuss options under the Ethiopian legal system. We will continue to press the Ethiopians as necessary to ensure that Mr Tsege has legal representation. As a result of sustained lobbying by the British Government, we now have more frequent consular access to Mr Tsege. He has been visited by UK Government officials on 10 occasions, most recently by both Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and by the FCO’s Africa Director on 1 June 2016. Mr Tsege is also receiving regular visits from his family in Ethiopia, and the FCO continues to provide consular support to Mr Tsege’s family in the UK.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many representations he received from his (a) Yemeni and (b) Saudi Arabian counterparts in each of the last 12 months on the conflict in Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Yemen: Civilians

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's recent estimate is of the number of civilian casualties in the conflict in Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many representations he has made to his (a) Yemeni and (b) Saudi Arabian counterpart in each of the last twelve months on the conflict in Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Kenya: Refugees

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Kenyan counterparts on the proposed demolition of the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in that country; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of those proposed demolitions on future migration flows across the Mediterranean.

James Duddridge: During his visit to Kenya on 3 June, the Foreign Secretary raised the announced closure of Dadaab refugee camp with the Kenyan Government, including President Kenyatta. We recognise the significant burden that Kenya faces in housing a large number of refugees. The Government of Kenya assured the Foreign Secretary that refugees would be treated in line with their international obligations.We are committed to working with Kenya and other members of the international community to ensure refugees are kept safe and that progress is made on the Tripartite Agreement, including safe and dignified refugee return. Our view, shared with the Kenyan Government, is that durable solutions for refugees are needed so that they will not be driven to undertaking the dangerous journeys, including across the Mediterranean.

Andargachew Tsege

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons he has not yet called for the immediate release of Andargachew Tsege.

James Duddridge: The Government takes the detention and welfare of Mr Andargachew Tsege very seriously. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised Mr Tsege’s case with the Ethiopian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister during his visit to Ethiopia on 1 June 2016. The Foreign Secretary received assurances that Mr Tsege will be allowed access to independent legal advice to allow him to discuss options under the Ethiopian legal system. We judge that an independent lawyer would be best placed to advise Mr Tsege of his options based on points of Ethiopian law. We will continue to press the Ethiopians as necessary to ensure that Mr Tsege has legal representation. Britain does not interfere in the legal systems of other countries, any more than we would accept interference in our judicial system. Our consular role is to ensure well-being and access to legal advice.

Israel: Armed Forces

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli government on that country's use of the courts to obtain information on the identities of soldiers who have served in Operation Protective Edge and testified about their experience with Breaking the Silence.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not raised this issue with the Israeli authorities.

Iran: Human Rights

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Iranian counterpart on the protection of Iranian human rights activists in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Marine Protected Areas

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress his Department has made on supporting the establishment of marine protected areas in the high seas.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of staff in her Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on non-payroll staff during this period.All staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office during this period were paid through the Department’s payroll.

Northern Ireland Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in her Department in 2015-16.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on non-payroll staff during this period.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with her Irish Republic counterpart on security co-operation since the latest published security assessment of the threat posed by Irish republican terrorists.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I am in regular contact with Irish ministers on security and other matters. Political and operational co-operation is strong and the Irish authorities are having considerable success disrupting the activities of dissident republican terrorists and bringing them to justice. I commend the PSNI and AGS for their work on tackling the terrorist threat and their efforts to keep people safe on both sides of the border. The establishment of the Joint Agency Task Force on organised crime adds another important dimension to this already effective co-operation.

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Police Service of Northern Ireland on financial resources and increasing levels of recruitment.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: PSNI’s main grant budget is provided through the block grant and is a matter for the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. Recruitment is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The UK Government has provided the resources PSNI asked for to tackle the terrorist threat: £231million in Additional Security Funding between 2011 and 2016, and £160 million over this spending round. This is a significant funding package and is part of this Government’s commitment to tackling the terrorist threat and supporting the PSNI. As the Government’s Northern Ireland manifesto at the General Election made clear, we will always give our fullest possible support to the brave men and women of the PSNI who do such excellent work protecting the community.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Industrial Health and Safety: Research

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 17 January 2014 to Question 183346, how much of the Economic and Social Research Council budget was allocated to research on health and safety matters in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

Joseph Johnson: The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) did not support any grants on Health and Safety within the two financial years specified. However, ESRC did fund a project focussed on Food Safety:ES/M002128/1 ‘Seminar Series on Food Options, Opinions and Decisions (FOOD): Integrating perspectives on consumer perceptions of food safety, nutrition and waste’ (£30,125.05, Nov 14 - Nov 17).The ESRC provides support for excellent research via both managed mode grants (directed by strategic priorities) and responsive mode grants, and welcomes applications driven by researcher curiosity.

Sunderland University: Overseas Students

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the benefits of international students at the University of Sunderland to the economy of Sunderland in the last five years.

Joseph Johnson: In the Government’s International Education Strategy, published in July 2013, the value of international higher education students to the UK was valued at £9.7bn. Information for Sunderland-specifically is not available.The international education strategy can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-education-strategy-global-growth-and-prosperity

Retail Trade: Chambers of Commerce

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will hold discussions with major high street retailers on increasing their involvement in local chamber of trade organisations in market towns.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will hold discussions with major high street retailers on increasing their involvement in local enterprise partnerships.

Anna Soubry: The Future High Street Forum, a joint partnership between government and the retail, leisure and property industries, includes major high street retailers and Gloucester First – the Retail Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The Forum supports town centres, including market towns, in meeting the changing needs of today’s consumer. The Forum leads a range of work, including a local partnerships work stream.LEPs define and champion their area’s offer, driving local economic growth through agreed local priorities set out in their Strategic Economic Plan.

Unemployment: Young People

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to support third-sector training providers and local authorities in reducing the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

Nick Boles: Third sector providers and local authority adult education services access the Adult Education Budget as prime and sub-contractors, using the funding for training which helps young people who are not in education, employment or training prepare for work, amongst other objectives. They also compete to run local European Social Fund programmes; many of these programmes focus on helping young people improve their skills levels and employment opportunities. Where combined authorities agree devolution deals which include devolution of the Adult Education Budget, they will assume full responsibility for decisions about what provision to commission from that budget. Nine areas have agreed such deals to date, with devolution of that budget due to take effect from 2018/19, subject to readiness conditions being met. BIS is working with those areas in advance of full devolution to help increase local influence over nationally-funded adult education provision in their locality in the interim.

Cuba: Overseas Trade

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the value of trade between the UK and Cuba has been in each of the last 10 years.

Anna Soubry: Data on the value of trade in goods between the UK and Cuba are available for the last 10 years from the HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics database. Figures are on a border basis.Data on the value of trade in services between the UK and Cuba are available for the years 2013 and 2014 in the ONS Pink Book 2015. Figures are on a balance of payments (BPM6) basis. Earlier years are not available on a consistent basis. 2015 data will be published in Pink Book 2016.The goods and services data from the HMRC and ONS sources are on a different basis, figures on the same basis are not available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, on BIS consultation, HCWS30, in which ways operating split-site and split-team working would put a strain on organisational effectiveness.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



   Policy teams in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently split across multiple locations around the country with teams and management chains divided across this landscape. As the Department becomes smaller, BIS needs a different model in which it is easier for all policy staff to operate without having to work around or compensate for the logistical challenges of a split site model. The Combined Headquarters model will mean all policy staff are co-located and within close proximity to one another and to Ministers. This will enable more face to face interaction between and within teams, within management chains and with Ministers.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016 on BIS consultation, HCWS30, whether he has made an assessment of the implications of the decision to create a combined Business, Innovation and Skills headquarters and policy function in London for the Government's objective to move graduate recruitment outside London.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) participates in a cross-Government graduate scheme. Within this scheme, graduates are centrally recruited from all over the UK and short term-placements are offered by departments, including BIS, across various departmental locations. The decision to create a combined Business, Innovation and Skills headquarters and policy function in London will not affect participation in this scheme.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016 on BIS consultation, HCWS30, what difficulties his Department experienced with split-site working in response to the steel crisis and Eurozone contingency planning.

Joseph Johnson: HCWS30 cites the steel crisis as an example of where the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has recently needed to redeploy large numbers of staff to address an urgent priority. As our policy function becomes more focused over the course of the Parliament, we expect to have to redeploy staff in this way more frequently than has so far been the case. Operating across split sites, in the context of a smaller workforce overall, would make it harder to quickly redeploy people to a different team or policy area, or for someone to be able to respond to an unpredictable or unusual demand for more intensive engagement with Ministers or Parliament.

Post Office: Redundancy Pay

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Post Office has spent on settlement agreements and redundancy payments for Crown Office staff since January 2010.

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many former Crown post offices which have been franchised have (a) closed and (b) relocated since January 2010.

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Post Office has spent on refurbishing the premises of the Crown Post Office in Paisley since January 2010.

George Freeman: Post Office Limited runs and manages its directly managed Crown post offices. Changes to the Crown network and arrangements for employees of these offices are the operational responsibility of the Post Office. I have asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, on BIS consultation, HCWS30, what assessment his Department has made of the relative level of difficulty in redeploying (a) London-based and (b) non-London-based staff to address urgent priorities.

Joseph Johnson: I refer the hon Member to my response to question UIN 39342.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, on BIS consultation, HCWS30, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of split-site working and recruiting on a flexible location basis for policy officials.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cars: Hire Services

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to (a) improve the transparency of car hire firms and (b) ensure people hiring cars are not incorrectly charged for damage to such cars.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, HCWS30, what proportion of the 1,500 roles will have ministerial exposure following the centralisation of policy functions in London.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, HCWS30, what estimate he has made of the transition costs associated with the decision to create a combined Business, Innovation and Skills headquarters and policy function in London.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mark Samworth

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has met Mark Samworth, owner of the food manufacturing company Samworths, in the last six months.

Anna Soubry: Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly alongside gifts, hospitality and travel on the GOV.UK website.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Reorganisation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 26 May 2016, HCWS30, whether his Department carried out an equality effect assessment on the effect on the public of the decision to centralise policy functions in his Department's London office.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has carried an Equality Analysis to consider the impact of the decision on staff with protected characteristics, in compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Apprentices

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which bodies have made representations to the Government on the inclusion of administration costs, travel and wages in the funding for the Digital Apprenticeship System; and what proportion of bodies making such representations were in favour of the Government's proposals.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Higher Education: Standards

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether a provider would need to achieve an Excellent rating in (a) one, (b) two or (c) three of the Teaching Quality, Learning Environment and Student Outcomes and Learning Gain categories in order to achieve an overall Excellent rating under the Teaching Excellence framework.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

British Home Stores: Insolvency

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, by when he expects the findings from the Insolvency Service investigation into BHS to be published.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Construction: Industry

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in which month the Pye Tait Review of retentions in the construction industry will be published.

Anna Soubry: The main aim of the Pye Tait research is to provide a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the costs and benefits of the contractual practice of holding retentions in construction.My Department is currently working with Pye Tait to finalise this research. It will be published alongside a consultation document later this year.

Building Regulations: Water

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what resources his Department has allocated to the Regulatory Delivery Directorate for enforcement of part G of the Building Regulations 2010 in domestic properties.

Anna Soubry: My Department has no direct responsibility for Building Regulations Part G as this falls to the Department for Communities and Local Government and is enforced through local authorities who have a general duty to enforce Building Regulations in their area.

Institute for Apprenticeships

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representation there will be on the board of the Institute for Apprenticeships from (a) business, (b) charities and (c) trades unions.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Apprentices

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the funding caps for apprenticeship standards and frameworks will be in the new levy system.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Apprentices

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which body will have the responsibility for conducting reviews of the funding caps on apprenticeship standards and frameworks.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Apprentices

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how frequently the funding caps on apprenticeship standards and frameworks will be reviewed.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Brain: Tumours

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department plans to collect data on Government funding allocated to brain tumour research.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent progress has been made on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The thirteenth round of negotiations for the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) took place between 20 and 24 April in New York. The next negotiating round is due to take place in July. We are making progress and our ambition remains to reach a political agreement during the Obama presidency. The UK is working for an ambitious agreement that removes remaining tariffs between the EU and US, cuts the regulatory and bureaucratic barriers faced by our exporters without lowering our standards, and opens up opportunities for our businesses to compete for public procurement. We want a deal that is good for businesses of all sizes and for consumers. In addition to the potential £10 billion annual benefit to the UK, TTIP provides an opportunity for the EU and US to shape the rules and standards for the global business environment.

Employment: Telephone Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answers of 25 May 2016 and 31 March 2016 to Questions 37757 and 31997, if he will publish data on referrals made by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline in 2014-15.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Sri Lanka: Floods

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government will be allocating official development assistance to Sri Lanka in response to the appeal by the Sri Lankan government for international finance for reconstruction following the floods in that country.

Justine Greening: The UK provides funding to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which was established by the UN and other leading donors to enable rapid emergency response. The CERF is doing an assessment of the situation following the rainfall and landslips in Sri Lanka.

Development Aid

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether other government departments are required to provide evidence to her Department that official development assistance disbursed by that department tackling global challenges is in the national interest.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The UK Aid Strategy set out how the government’s aid budget will be restructured to ensure that it is spent on tackling the great global challenges from the root cause of migration and disease to the threat of terrorism and climate change, all of which impact the world’s poor and directly threaten Britain’s interests. The UK Aid Strategy sets out spending and reporting requirements.All departments spending ODA will be required to put in place a clear plan to ensure that their programme design, quality assurance, approval, contracting and procurement, monitoring, reporting and evaluation processes represent international best practice. All UK ODA is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective, in line with the internationally agreed rules on ODA.ODA-spending departments and funds must provide accurate and timely information on their ODA spending to DFID to meet OECD reporting requirements.

Department for International Development: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of staff in her Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Sir Desmond Swayne: DFID provides monthly workforce management information as part of its commitment to transparency. Information on staff numbers and costs is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfid-workforce-management-information-public-body.

Department for International Development: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many civil servants in her Department are paid through limited companies.

Sir Desmond Swayne: DFID does not pay any civil servants through limited companies.

Department for International Development: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in her Department in 2015-16.

Sir Desmond Swayne: DFID provides monthly workforce management information as part of its commitment to transparency. Information on staff numbers and costs is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfid-workforce-management-information-public-body.

Yemen: Overseas Aid

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what humanitarian support and assistance her Department plans to provide to aid agencies in Yemen in each of the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The UK more than doubled its humanitarian commitment to Yemen in 2015-16 to £85 million, making us the fourth largest donor last year. We have so far helped more than 1.3 million Yemenis who have been affected by the conflict. Over the next twelve months, we will continue to work with a range of partners to address the widespread humanitarian needs across Yemen, as well as helping to de-escalate the conflict, improve commercial and humanitarian access, lay the groundwork for recovery and push for a sustainable political solution. Budgets for 2016/17 will be announced in due course.

Syria: Humanitarian Aid

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of air drops of humanitarian aid in Syria; and what her Department's strategy is for ensuring humanitarian aid is delivered to Syria after the passing of the UN deadline on 1 June 2016.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The UK continues to press for sustained access to all besieged and hard to reach areas. We are also pressing for an end to the removal of medical equipment from convoys by the regime, the evacuation of critical medical cases and regular access to healthcare for besieged populations.Since the passing of the ISSG’s 1st June deadline, there has been some progress, including regime approval in principle for land access to all of the areas requested in the UN’s access plan for June. The Syrian regime must now deliver on its commitment to allow land access to all besieged areas.The international community will be watching progress closely. If the regime continues to block access, the UK and other ISSG members will consider further action to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Pay

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average hourly earnings were of her Department's (a) BME and (b) non-BME employees in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education pays annual salaries. These have been converted to hourly rates using the calculation ((Gross Basic Salary*FTE)/52)/Weekly hours: Mar-15Mar-16BME£19.22£19.32Non-BME£21.67£22.00

Homelessness: Children in Care

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children have been taken into local authority care in each of the last three years as a result of a decision by a local authority that their parents have made themselves intentionally homeless by accruing rent arrears.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is not available.

Children: Day Care

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the per pupil fee for the planned introduction of 30 hours free childcare  will be the same for each local authority.

Mr Sam Gyimah: At the Spending Review we announced the average funding rates will be increased as we promised during the General Election campaign. The new rates will be £4.88 for 3- and 4-year-olds and £5.39 for 2-year-olds. The Childcare Review has provided strong evidence that provider costs vary substantially across different parts of the country. There is therefore a strong rationale for varying funding rates between areas. We know, however, that there are historical inconsistencies and inefficiencies with the current funding system for 3- and 4-year-olds. We will introduce a national funding formula for early years so that funding is transparently and fairly matched to need and fairly distributed between different types of providers and different parts of the country.

Children: Day Care

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will estimate the number of children in Solihull constituency that would be currently eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We will publish figures for individual local authorities in due course. We can confirm that the additional 15 hours will be available to families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family), with each parent earning a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage or living wage. Working will include employed and self-employed parents. In general families where one parent does not work (or neither parent works) will not be eligible for these additional hours. However, we intend to make provision so that parents in certain circumstances will be regarded as being in work. This includes in the case of couple families where one parent is in receipt of benefits relating to caring responsibilities or a disability, and those on parental leave. More information is set out in the December 2015 Policy Statement, which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childcare-bill-policy-statement

Children: Day Care

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) independent nurseries which will provide the additional 15 hours of childcare under the provisions of the Childcare Act 2016.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education publishes data on the number of children benefitting from funded early education places by type of provider and local authority. The latest information can be found in the Statistical First Release Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2015 (SFR20/2015). As part of our ongoing development of our 30 hours implementation plans we are consulting extensively with key stakeholders, including representative organisations and other individual providers. The government will continue to support the growth and creation of new places to deliver the 30 hours funded entitlement through investing at least £50 million of capital investment to support the creation of additional early years places. This is in addition to our commitment to capital funding to create nursery provision as part of new Free Schools which we estimate will create at least 4,000 places.

Children: Autism

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with autism in each region attend (a) mainstream schools and (b) specialist provision.

Edward Timpson: The Department publishes information at regional and local level on pupils with Special Education Needs (SEN) support, a statement or Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan with autism spectrum disorder as their primary type of need on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2015. As this is a devolved matter, we are only able to provide information about England. This information is for pupils with autism spectrum disorder listed as their primary type of need. Pupils with autism spectrum disorder as a secondary type of need, or who are not recorded as having SEN support, a statement or EHC plan, will not be included in these figures.

Autism: Special Educational Needs

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve provision to meet the educational needs of children with autism.

Edward Timpson: This reply covers support for the needs of children with autism in England. The Northern Ireland Assembly has devolved responsibility for education policy. The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced significant reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system in England which better supports children and young people with autism in the education system. The new statutory framework ensures that support is focused on needs and aspirations, enabling all pupils, including those with autism, to achieve better outcomes in education and adult life. Since the Act came into force in September 2014, there have been a number of significant changes to the SEND system in England which benefit children and young people with autism. This includes the publication of ‘local offers’ of SEND services by local authorities, the introduction of streamlined education, health and care needs assessments and plans, and new statutory protections for young people aged 16-25 in further education. The Act also makes provision to ensure that parents, children and young people are able to access impartial information, advice and support about the SEND system. This is available through a local, dedicated and easily identifiable service which includes help to prepare them for meetings with schools, health professionals or other agencies that may be supporting them in their education. Under the Department’s Free Schools programme, there are now 19 special free schools open across England, including several that are specifically for children with autism, such as the Rise free school in Hounslow, the Lighthouse free school in Leeds and the National Autistic Society’s Church Lawton free school in Cheshire. There are a further 14 special free schools due to open in the future, seven of which will specialise in provision for children with autism, including the Heartlands Autism free school in Haringey and a second National Autistic Society free school, the Vanguard free school in Lambeth. Several of the other schools will offer some places for children with autism. The Department has contracted with the Autism Education Trust to deliver autism training to education professionals in England. The Trust has now trained approaching 100,000 education staff since 2012. The training offered by the Autism Education Trust incorporates the learning from previous work by Ambitious about Autism on strategies for supporting transition from school to college and the contract also covers a service provided by the National Autistic Society which provides information and advice to parents and professionals on exclusions.

Children: Day Care

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average hourly cost per child is to the public purse of the additional 15 hours free childcare provided for under the Childcare Act 2016 in (a) the UK, (b) the North West and (c) Rochdale.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Currently the national average hourly rate paid by the Department for Education to local authorities in England is £4.56. From April 2017, the national average funding rate paid by the Department will increase to £4.88 per hour for three- and four-year-olds. This includes the average spend on the early years pupil premium which, at current rates, is approximately 5p per child per hour. More government investment and support than ever before is going towards high-quality early education: funding for the early years entitlements will increase from £2.7 billion per year to £3.9 billion per year during the course of this Parliament, and this includes an uplift of £300 million per year. We recognise that the current funding system for funded early education creates unfair and unjustifiable differences between areas and providers. That is why we have announced that we will introduce a national funding formula for early years. The Government will be consulting on detailed proposals later this year. These figures refer to England as the early years entitlements are a devolved matter.

Children: Day Care

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the (a) likely level of uptake for the extra 15 hour a week childcare provided for under the Childcare Act 2016 and (b) number of people eligible for that extra childcare under the provisions of that Act.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government estimates that around 390,000 three- and four-year-olds will be eligible for the additional 15 hours of free childcare, and we expect that the majority of parents with eligible children will want to take up this generous offer. During our 2015 consultation, we conducted an online survey and of nearly 20,000 respondents, around 89% said they would take up the additional hours if they were available now.

Teachers: Training

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on including training on autism in initial teacher training.

Nick Gibb: All initial teacher training (ITT) courses must ensure that trainee teachers can meet the Teachers’ Standards. They must have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Teachers must be able to adapt teaching to the needs of all pupils, including pupils with autism. Following the publication of the independent review of ITT by Sir Andrew Carter in 2015, the Government commissioned an expert group, chaired by Stephen Munday CBE, to develop a framework of core ITT content. The Carter Review had found variability in the quality of course content, identifying SEND as one area for improvement. Stephen Munday’s group, which includes SEND experts, have considered how the new framework of core content for ITT will have a focus on SEND, including conditions such as autism. The Secretary of State for Education has confirmed that autism training will form part of the new core content for ITT. Ministers are currently considering the recommendations of the group and the report is expected to be published in due course.

Children: Day Care

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in (a) Leeds North West constituency and (b) Leeds city region are eligible for 15 hours free childcare.

Mr Sam Gyimah: All three- and four-year-olds are eligible for funded early education. In addition, two-year-olds are eligible for funded early education where their parents meet certain income and benefit related criteria[1]. The Department for Education does not publish data on eligibility at constituency or city-region level, however information can be found on take-up and eligibility for funded early education at local authority level in the Statistical First Release: Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2015[2] In January 2015 in Leeds local authority, 4,600 two-year-olds, 10,100 three-year-olds and 10,000 four-year-olds were eligible for funded early education[3]. [1] https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/provision-for-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2015[3] Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.

Children: Day Care

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received from small childcare providers on her plans to increase free childcare entitlement to 30 hours per week and the ability of those providers to fund care places.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received from local authorities on the ability of those authorities to fund an increase in free childcare entitlement to 30 hours per week.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department is consulting on key elements of the operation and delivery of the 30 hour extended free entitlement. This includes how the entitlement will be delivered, and how it will meet and be responsive to the needs of working parents. To date we have received over 1000 responses from a wide range of childcare providers, local authorities and provider organisations. We will use these views to inform our thinking as we move to delivering the 30 hours policy. The consultation is available at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/early-years-funding/childcare-free-entitlement We know there are historical inconsistencies and inefficiencies with the current funding system for 3- and 4-year-olds. That is why we will introduce a national funding formula for early years so that funding is transparently and fairly matched to need and fairly distributed between different types of providers and different parts of the country.

Free Schools: Luton

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 16 February 2016 to Question 26162, when she plans to publish details of the unspent funding returned to her Department by Luton Girls' Academy or people associated with its free school application.

Edward Timpson: £155,153 of pre-opening expenditure was spent on Luton Girls’ Academy after taking into account a refund of £24,847 made by the Trust. This was published on GOV.UK in May 2016:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-expenditure-for-free-schools

Children: Day Care

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to evaluate the pilot schemes on increasing free childcare entitlement to 30 hours per week.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We are currently commissioning the evaluation of early implementation of 30 hours free childcare. An invitation to tender was published in May 2016 with a view to awarding the contract to a successful bidder by the end of June 2016. The evaluation will focus on generating learning that can be used by Early Implementers and all local councils ahead of national implementation in September 2017.

Children: Day Care

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential financial effect on nurseries in deprived areas of her plans to increase the free childcare entitlement to 30 hours per week.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The government conducted a 6 month long review of the cost of childcare provision in 2015 - the most in depth analysis of this market we have ever had, and was described by the National Audit Office as “thorough and wide-ranging”. This assessed the costs of different types of providers across the country, including nurseries in deprived areas. The review is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-childcare-costs Based on this information we announced at the 2015 Spending Review that the government would provide £300 million per year for a significant uplift to the average funding rates paid for the 2-, 3- and 4-year-old entitlements from 2017-18. Together with the funding announced at last summer’s Budget, we will be investing over £1 billion more per year by 2019-20 to fund our commitments on the entitlements. We will also be introducing a national funding formula for the early years so that funding is transparently and fairly matched to need and fairly distributed between different types of providers and different parts of the country. We will be consulting on detailed proposals later this year.

Design and Technology: GCSE

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils studied GCSE design and technology in (a) England and (b) Wiltshire in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: In 2014/15 [1], there were 194,908 entries in England and 1,616 entries in Wiltshire for GCSE design and technology [2],[3]. [1] Information is based on final 2014/15 figures.[2] GCSE design and technology includes D&T Electronic Products, D&T Food Technology, D&T Graphic Products, D&T Product Design, D&T Resistant Materials, D&T Systems & Control, D&T Textiles Technology, Graphics, Motor Vehicle Studies, D&T Engineering.[3] Revised 2014/15 Information on the number of entries for GCSE technology and design is published in the “Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: 2014 to 2015” statistical first release at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/493476/SFR01_2016_Subject_Tables.xlsx (Table S5)

Free School Meals: Copeland

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children living in the Copeland constituency have been eligible to receive free school meals in each of the last six years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Data for the number of pupils eligible for free school meals in each school in England are available in the underlying data in each of the annual ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical releases.[1] The number and proportion of pupils attending schools in Copeland who were known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in each of the last six years is given in the table below. YearNumber of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school mealsPercentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals20101,42312.120111,42012.020121,36211.820131,39512.320141,35412.120151,25311.1Source: School Census [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers - click on the relevant year and then ‘underlying data.’ The data is contained in files with ‘Schools_Pupils’ in the title.

Special Educational Needs: Lancashire

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with special needs or disabilities are in mainstream schools in (a) Lancashire and (b) Burnley.

Edward Timpson: The number of children with either Special Education Needs (SEN) support, a statement of SEN or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan attending mainstream schools in (a) Lancashire and (b) Burnley are shown in the table below. These figures are from the January 2015 school census data. The figures for Lancashire can be found in tables 12 and 13 of the local authority tables which accompany the Special educational needs in England: 2015 publication, available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2015.The figures for Burnley can be found in the accompanying underlying data file. Number of children with either SEN support, a statement of SEN or EHC plan by establishment type Lancashire Local AuthorityBurnley Parliamentary ConstituencyState funded primary schools12,2231,118State funded secondary schools7,145763Total19,3681,881  Source: schools census 2015. Rounding and suppression are used in the published underlying data file.

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children from disadvantaged backgrounds in (a) Burnley and (b) Lancashire gained five or more GCSEs including English and mathematics in (i) 2014 and (ii) 2015.

Nick Gibb: The percentage of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at A* -C, including English and mathematics by local authority and disadvantaged backgrounds in 2014 and 2015 is published in the GCSE and equivalent statistical first release.[1],[2]. Burnley district level information is not available. 2015:[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2014-to-2015 (table LA9) [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-attainment-by-pupil-characteristics-2014 (table 6)

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how  many children in (a) Burnley and (b) Lancashire eligible for free school meals attain level four or above at Key Stage 2 in reading, mathematics and writing.

Nick Gibb: The percentage of pupils who are eligible for free school meals and attain level 4 or above in key stage 2 reading, mathematics and writing, is published in the “National curriculum assessments at key stage 2: 2015,” statistical first release[1]. Burnley district level information is not available. [1] KS2 for 2014/15:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/483612/SFR47_2015_KS2_LA_Tables.xlsx (Table 25 by local authorities)

Department for Education: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many civil servants in her Department are paid through limited companies.

Nick Gibb: No civil servants at the Department for Education are employed through limited companies.We award contracts to individuals or organisations through their limited companies but the number of those could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Academies: Admissions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2016 to Question 37487, whether the Education Funding Agency has directed academies to admit pupils 10 or 12 times since 2012; and how many directions sought by local authorities and referred on to the Schools Adjudicator were upheld in each year from 2005 to 2010.

Nick Gibb: Pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2016 to Question 37487, the Education Funding Agency has directed academies to admit pupils 12 times between April 2012 and April 2016. The Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) does not issue directions in relation to maintained schools but will determine the case if a school which a local authority is seeking to direct refers the case on to the adjudicator. Prior to 2007, directions under section 96 and 97 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (SSFA) were determined by the Secretary of State. The Education and Inspections Act 2006 amended the SSFA to bring powers to the OSA to determine appeals. The table below shows the number of directions upheld in each year from 2007 to 2010. YearLA directions upheld by OSA200762008202009920107

Academies: Freehold

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy schools hold the freehold of their school sites.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Education: Domestic Visits

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent on travel and accommodation for civil servants accompanying the Minister of State for Schools on official business since July 2014.

Nick Gibb: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at a disproportionate cost.

Academies: Admissions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2016 to Question 37615, on academies: admissions, how many times local authorities asked her to intervene in each year from 2012 to 2015.

Nick Gibb: Local authorities have contacted the Education Funding Agency 88 times asking it to intervene on the Secretary of State’s behalf in academy admissions.Financial YearRequests received from local authoritiesApril 2012 - March 201324April 2013 - March 201428April 2014 - March 201536Total88

Social Services: Birmingham

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what occasions (a) she, (b) Ministers of her Department and (c) the Chief Social Worker for Children have visited Birmingham Children's Services Department since 2012.

Edward Timpson: Since 2012, the Secretary of State visited Birmingham Children’s Services Department in September 2013. Since 2012, the Minister of State for Children and Families visited Birmingham Children’s Services Department in December 2013. Since her appointment in September 2013, the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families visited Birmingham Children’s Services Department in December 2013 (with the Minister of State for Children and Families), and in January 2014 and July 2014. The Secretary of State and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools have also met officials from Birmingham City Council in London.

Schools: Registration

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will estimate the number of unregistered schools in England.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many investigations her Department is currently carrying out into unregistered schools in England; and what steps her Department is taking to monitor such schools.

Edward Timpson: We are currently investigating institutions that may be operating as unregistered independent schools in England, as referred to by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw in his recently published letter. We will make a statement about progress in due course.It is important to recognise that new settings come to our attention and existing ones close, or are confirmed not to be operating as schools on a regular basis.Sir Michael Wilshaw’s published letter can be accessed on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unregistered-schools-ofsted-advice-note

Academies

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on creating a £10 million fund for small schools to secure expert support and advice on converting to academy status.

Edward Timpson: This Government recognises the particular challenges facing small and rural schools and is committed to supporting them. We have announced a package of measures to guarantee the continued success of these schools, including £10 million to secure expert support and advice. Details on how this will be administered, and further information, will be available in due course.

Children: Care Homes

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review her Department's decision not to publish a Children's Home Data Pack for the year ending 31 March 2015.

Edward Timpson: The Department has published three children’s homes data packs, in March 2012, September 2013, and December 2014. These can be found on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-data-pack These were stand-alone publications seeking to explore particular issues, not an annual series. There are no current plans to produce a new Children’s Home Data Pack but Sir Martin Narey’s independent review of residential care for children, which will be published in due course, will provide a valuable insight into the children’s homes sector. Ministers will carefully consider Sir Martin’s recommendations.

Vocational Education: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Lord Heseltine's report, Tees Valley: Opportunity unlimited, published on 7 June 2016, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of a University Technical College or Institute of Technology in the Tees Valley area.

Nick Boles: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children (a) in total and (b) per 10,000 children are in care in each local authority in England.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many residential children's homes with capacities of (a) fewer than six and (b) six or more residents operate in England.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many residential children's homes have (a) closed and (b) opened in each of the last five years.

Edward Timpson: Information on the number of looked after children, and rates per 10,000 children, in each local authority in England is available in Local Authority table LAA1 of the statistical first release ‘Children looked after in England including adoption, 2014 to 2015’ available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2014-to-2015.Information on capacity of children’s homes in each local authority is published by Ofsted. This information is available in the statistical release ‘Children’s social care data in England 2015’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childrens-social-care-in-england-2015 (available at link ‘charts, tables and underlying data’, and tab ‘providers + places at 31 03 15’).Information on how many residential children’s homes have closed and opened in each of the last five years is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the Honourable Member Tim Loughton with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Children: Day Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to publish the findings from areas piloting 30 hours of free childcare.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We are currently commissioning the evaluation of early implementation of 30 hours free childcare. An invitation to tender was published in May 2016 with a view to awarding the contract to a successful bidder by the end of June 2016. The evaluation will focus on generating learning that can be used by Early Implementers and all local councils ahead of national implementation in September 2017.

Chief Social Worker for Children and Families

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authority children's services departments have been visited by the Chief Social Worker for Children since she took up that post.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ministry of Justice

Corruption: Prosecutions

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many corporate bodies have been prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010.

Mike Penning: The Bribery Act came into force on 1 July 2011. To date there has been one corporate prosecution.

Criminal Records: Databases

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what procedure over what period findings of Not Guilty are entered into the Criminal Record database.

Mr Shailesh Vara: HM Courts & Tribunals Service is responsible for ensuring that case outcome and sentence information, including whether the defendant was found guilty or not guilty, is sent to the police for inclusion on the Police National Computer (PNC). The average time taken to send cases to the police in financial year 2015/16 was 1.3 days.

Court Service: ICT

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the needs of (a) the old, (b) the very young, (c) people with difficulties with IT literacy, (d) people with difficulties with literacy and (c) other vulnerable groups are provided for in digital courts.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The response to the recent consultation on the provision of courts and tribunals set out that taking into account the needs of users, including those who are vulnerable, is a key principle in the development of our reforms. The consultation response is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/499518/national-consultation-document.pdf,We are committed to maintaining - and indeed improving - access to justice as we move towards digital channels in the courts and tribunals service. This means making sure that all users are supported to access our digital services - we call this ‘assisted digital’ support. The assisted digital arrangements we will put in place will be tailored to the needs of users and the service with which they are interacting.

Court Service: ICT

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how his Department plans to fund the investment in ICT required to modernise and digitalise the court service.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Spending Review, announced in November 2015, agreed an investment of over £700m in HM Courts and Tribunal Service reform programme, to modernise and digitalise the courts and tribunals service. The Spending Review is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-and-autumn-statement-2015-documents/spending-review-and-autumn-statement-2015

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) out-of-court restorative justice resolutions and (b) cautions were given to (i) people on suspended prison sentences and (ii) prisoners released on licence in the latest year for which information is held.

Mike Penning: As I said during my appearance before the Justice Select Committee on 24 May, there is a difference between restorative justice and out of court disposals. Restorative justice is not a disposal in its own right, however, it can be used in conjunction with community resolution or a conditional caution. As stated in the previous response to this question (PQ 36692), the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Reparation by Offenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have participated in an out-of-court restorative justice resolution on more than one occasion.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what type of (a) indictable and (b) violence against the person offences were committed by offenders who participated in an out-of-court restorative justice resolution in the last year for which information is available.

Mike Penning: As I said during my appearance before the Justice Select Committee on 24 May, there is a difference between restorative justice and out of court disposals. Restorative justice is not a disposal in its own right, however, it can be used in conjunction with community resolution or a conditional caution. As stated in the previous response to these questions (PQ 36186 and PQ 36189), the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of participation in out-of-court restorative justice on reoffending rates.

Mike Penning: As stated in the previous response to this question (PQ 36193), and in my letter to you of 27 May, there has been no assessment on the impact on reoffending rates of participation in restorative justice as part of an out of court disposal. However, government funded research examined the wider impact of restorative justice. This showed that restorative justice, by the conferencing method, has the potential to reduce the frequency of re-offending by 14%.

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to place the offences committed by offenders who participate in out-of-court restorative justice on the Police National Computer and make them available to courts dealing with any future offending.

Mike Penning: As I said during my appearance before the Justice Select Committee on 24 May, there is a difference between restorative justice and out of court disposals. Restorative justice is not a disposal in its own right, however, it can be used in conjunction with community resolution or a conditional caution. As stated in the previous response to this question (PQ 36187), the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Equal Pay: Tribunals

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of claims of equal pay to employment tribunals in 2015 were successful for (a) men and (b) women.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many equal pay claims accepted by employment tribunals in 2015 had been made against (a) government departments, (b) non-departmental public bodies and (c) local authorities.

Mr Shailesh Vara: There is no significant difference in the success rate of equal pay claims submitted by men and women in 2015. The numbers and the percentage of claims which were successful in 2015 are set out in the table below. Number of successful claimsPercentage successful claimsMen152369%Women911166% Information on the number of equal pay claims is published in the Tribunals and Gender Recognition Statistics Quarterly: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/528235/main-tables.xlsx Data on the number of equal pay claims made against the type of respondents are not collated centrally by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. This information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost by manually checking hard copy files or judgments.

Ministry of Justice: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many civil servants in his Department are paid through limited companies.

Mike Penning: No civil servants are paid through limited companies in the Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Justice: Procurement

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been levied in respect of financial remedies in each key performance indicator designated in respect of the contractual agreement entitled the Provision of Total Facilities Management between his Department and (a) Amey Community Ltd, (b) Carillion (AMBS) Ltd, (c) EMCOR Facilities Services Ltd, (d) Enterprise Managed Services Ltd, (e) G4S Integrated Services (UK) Ltd, (f) Mitie Facilities Services Ltd and (g) Sodexo Ltd in each of the last three years.

Mike Penning: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Crime: Males

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many men have (a) been charged with and (b) served a prison sentence for non-violent crimes in the last five years.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women have (a) been charged with and (b) served a prison sentence for non-violent crimes in the last five years.

Dominic Raab: Charging decisions are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service, and sentencing is a matter for our independent courts. The court may only impose a custodial sentence where it finds that the offence is so serious that neither a community sentence nor a fine alone can be justified. There is no clear definition of a non-violent crime, as both physical and psychological harm can be caused by many crimes and this will not necessarily be apparent from the description of the offence. However, the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty and sentenced, including to custody, by offence category and specific offence, by gender, in England and Wales, from 2011 to 2015 can be found in the Criminal Justice Statistics outcomes by offence data tool in the most recent annual publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2015.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost was of a tribunal hearing for a benefits claimant who had been sanctioned for not complying with work search requirements in the last 12 months; how many such tribunals there were in each of the past five years; and what the total cost was of those tribunals in each of the past five years.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister: Scotland

Chris Law: To ask the Prime Minister, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.

Mr David Cameron: I regularly visit all parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland. Details of my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and can be accessed via the gov.uk website.

Taxation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Prime Minister, how many meetings he had to discuss tax evasion and avoidance between (a) 5 April 2016 and 5 May 2016 and (b) 6 May 2016 and 6 June 2016.

Mr David Cameron: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects. I also hosted the Anti-Corruption Summit, the first of its kind, which discussed among other issues tax evasion and avoidance. The Summit conclusions have been published on the gov.uk website. The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone makes a fair contribution towards reducing the deficit. We have already announced, during this Parliament, that we will legislate for over 25 measures to tackle avoidance, evasion and aggressive tax planning, which are forecast to raise £16 billion by 2021.

Members: Correspondence

Anna Turley: To ask the Prime Minister, when he plans to reply to the letter of 27 April 2016 from the hon. Member for Redcar and the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Steel.

Mr David Cameron: A reply has been sent.

UK Membership of EU

Richard Drax: To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the oral Answer of 8 June 2016, Official Report, which treaty changes (a) protect the UK from ever closer union and (b) provides protection for the UK's currency; and on what date he plans those treaty changes to be made.

Mr David Cameron: The central element of the deal that the Government secured at the February European Council is an International Law Decision agreed by all the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the EU. This decision includes a binding and irreversible commitment that the Member States will at the next opportunity amend the EU Treaties to address key UK concerns. The Treaties will be amended to include the legally-binding principles, enshrined in the international law decision, that will make sure that the UK is not penalised, excluded or discriminated against by EU rules because we have chosen to keep the pound, and the recognition that the UK is not committed to further political integration into the EU and that the concept of ‘ever closer union’ will not apply to the UK in future. The Decision will take effect if the British people vote to remain in the EU.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Sports: Investment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what amount has been invested in grassroots sport in each region and constituent part of the UK in each year since the 2012 London Olympic Games.

David Evennett: Sport England National Lottery and Exchequer grant investment in grassroots sport, broken down by constituency, is publicly available on Sport England’s website: www.sportengland.org/funding/investments-weve-made. Policy for grassroots sport is devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each country has a sports council which is responsible for funding of grassroots sport.

Broadband

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to achieve its goal of a minimum broadband speed of 10Mbps nationwide.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government has committed to putting in place a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) by the end of this Parliament. We have made clear our ambition that access to fast broadband should be on a similar footing as other basic services, giving everyone a legal right to request a connection of 10Mbps.

Tickets: Sales

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to prevent online bots being used to purchase hundreds of tickets for concerts and football matches to be sold on a greatly increased prices.

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the findings of the Independent review of consumer protection measures concerning online secondary ticketing facilities, published on 26 May 2016.

David Evennett: Professor Waterson’s Independent Review of Consumer Protection Measures concerning Online Secondary Ticketing Facilities includes recommendations for the primary ticketing market in relation to ‘bots’ and tackling them. Professor Waterson considers that primary ticket sellers should be routinely reporting bot attacks to the police as such incidents may give rise to breaches of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and that greater reporting will also enable the police to assess any wider criminal intent behind bot and botnet usage. The Government’s response to Professor Waterson’s Report will be published in due course.

Robert Burns

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department plans to promote the works of Robert Burns as part of the UK-Russia Year of Language and Literature 2016.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK programme in Russia for the 2016 UK Russia Year of Language and Literature is being led by the British Council in partnership with the FCO, UKTI and Visit Britain and other UK organisations.The programme reflects the literary heritage of all parts of the United Kingdom, including Robert Burns, whose work already enjoys great popularity in Russia.In addition the British Council is using the Year of Language and Literature to promote contemporary Scottish literature in Russia. Scottish poets will visit Russia to collaborate with Russian poets, Scottish writers will feature in the 'New Writing from the UK' award and a Scottish writer will take part in the British Literature Seminar at Tolstoy’s home in September.

Sports: Sheffield

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department and UK Sport will host a UK Sport Gold Series Event at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield.

David Evennett: UK Sport continues to work closely with Sheffield City Council having previously funded 15 major events in Sheffield since 2007 and Stage 2 of the 2014 Tour de France which finished in the city.

USA: Visas

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for (a) Culture, Media and Sport and (b) Business, Innovation and Skills on steps to support UK musicians in obtaining performance visas for the US; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with the US government on UK musicians wishing to obtain performance visas for that country; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the US embassy in London, (b) the US Consulate in Belfast and (c) local councils on allowing UK musicians attempting to obtain visas to the US to conduct visa interviews in their local areas.

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on working together to support musicians in obtaining performance visas for the US.

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what reports he has received on the costs, time taken and other difficulties related to the visa process for UK musicians performing in the US; and whether his Department has made representations on those costs and difficulties to the US government.

Mr Edward Vaizey: My Department is working closely with the FCO, BIS, the US Government, UKTI and the UK music industry to maximise opportunities for emerging and established musicians to perform to audiences in the United States and around the world. I recognise the US government's desire to strike the right balance between cultural exchange, creative exports and security. I hope together we can pursue practical improvements to the visa system which enable British talent to flourish in the US and around the world ​Between 2012 and 2016, the Government invested £460 million in a range of music and cultural education programmes. We introduced tax relief for orchestras and started a successful music export scheme which has helped many musicians to go abroad.​ Discussions are ongoing about a revamp of the Music Export Growth Scheme and we hope to make an announcement shortly.

Exercise and Sports: Sheffield

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment the Government has made of the contribution of the work of the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield to breaking down distinctions between sport and wider physical activity.

David Evennett: Government is committed to increasing physical activity as set out in our sport strategy, ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’ published late last year. That strategy removed the artificial barriers between sport and wider physical activity, broadening Sport England’s remit to include cycling, dancing and walking. The recently published Sport England strategy, ‘Towards an Active Nation’, sets out their plans to implement this new approach. I recognise that creating a more active society will require action by a range of bodies working together over a significant period of time. I therefore welcome the work of Legacy Park Ltd in Sheffield in bringing together partners across local government, the health sector, academia, elite and community sport and the private sector. I look forward to seeing their ambitious plans to establish sport facilities for elite and community use and an Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre that would work with the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine to provide health and wellbeing research and learning.

Broadband: Bolton South East

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises in Bolton South East constituency do not have access to superfast broadband.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Honourable member will be pleased to hear that 98% of premises in her constituency will have access to superfast broadband by Spring 2017. Current estimates suggest that almost 95% of premises in the Bolton South East constituency are subject to commercial rollout, and based on DCMS modelled estimates and current delivery plans, a further 3% of premises will have access to superfast broadband by Spring 2017, thanks to the Government's rollout. Early gainshare funding that BT will return in response to the high levels of take-up being achieved, could help extend coverage further. It is estimated only 784 premises will be without superfast broadband by spring 2017. In addition, the Government's intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation will give people the legal right to request a broadband connection, no matter where they live.

Historic Buildings: Flags

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that landmarks in the stewardship of English Heritage fly the Union flag in place of the organisation's house flag.

David Evennett: The English Heritage Trust flies its house flag at its historic sites to help visitors identify its properties. Where properties have more than one flagpole, they are encouraged to fly the Union flag. On certain important occasions, including on the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen (21 April) and Remembrance Day, the Union flag is flown from all sites with flagpoles.

Department for Work and Pensions

Mental Health

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of cases of stress and anxiety related to (a) benefit sanctions and (b) conditionality of benefits.

Priti Patel: The Department does not hold information requested.

Employment and Support Allowance

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time was that prospective employment and support allowance claimants waited between application and a decision on their claim being reached in the last three months.

Priti Patel: Please see table below for requested data; National Claims Actual Average (mean) Clearance Time (AACT) (Working days)Feb 2016Mar 2016Apr 2016Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)6.86.66.5. Notes:This measures the average number of Working Days (excludes weekends and English Bank Holidays) between an application being made and the date the customer was notified of the decision on their claim. The AACT relates to the initial ESA assessment phase prior to WCA.  Source:This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claimants have been sanctioned since 2010 in each region in each year since 2010.

Priti Patel: The available information on Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance sanction decisions is published and can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.ukGuidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Access to Work Programme

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has changed the Access to Work policy affecting disabled people who derive some of their income as part-time or full-time professional foster carers.

Justin Tomlinson: There has been no change to Access to Work guidance specifically relating to foster carers. Access to Work grants are awarded on the basis of meeting the minimum disability related workplace needs of the customer. Like all access to work claims, assessment is made on a case by case basis.

Disability: Vocational Guidance

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a dedicated Deaf and Disability Careers Advisory Service.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have responsibility for the National Careers service, which provides free, up to date, impartial information and advice and guidance on careers, skills and the labour market in England. It is delivered by around 1,400 careers advisers trained and qualified to level 3 and above in providing tailored careers information, advice and guidance.DWP is also committed to supporting deaf and disabled people into employment. For example, we are spending more on Access to Work to extend it to more people. 5,580 people whose primary medical condition is listed as ‘Deaf and hard of hearing’ were helped by Access to Work in the period 2014/15. We are also increasing the number of Disability Employment Advisors in Jobcentres by over 60 per cent to provide specialist and local expertise. Moreover, we will be investing £330m over 2017-2021 in providing additional employment support for individuals in the Work-Related Activity Group of employment support allowance.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support is available to a welfare recipient with a medical condition once a sanction has been imposed.

Priti Patel: All claimants who have been sanctioned can apply for a hardship payment. This is awarded when claimants demonstrate they cannot meet their immediate and most essential needs as a result of their sanction

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what account is taken of medical conditions when deciding whether to apply benefit sanctions.

Priti Patel: The decision to temporarily reduce or halt a benefit payment is always thoroughly considered and is not something we do lightly.Claimants are only asked to meet reasonable requirements, taking into account their individual circumstances and capability, including health conditions, disability and any caring responsibilities. These requirements are clearly explained and agreed with their Jobcentre Plus Work Coach and set out in their Claimant Commitment.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment appeals his Department has conceded prior to their being heard at first-tier tribunals in the last 12 months.

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance appeals his Department conceded prior to their being heard at first-tier tribunals in the last 12 months.

Justin Tomlinson: The requested information in relation to Personal Independence Payment could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. For ESA the figures for the latest 12 months available are as follows: MonthTotalApril 2015260May190June240July360August230September230October240November280December250January 2016250February210March270Total3010 These figures represent the number of appeals revised and lapsed before the appeal is heard. A decision will be revised at this stage of the decision making process mainly because of new information provided by the claimant in his grounds of appeal. - Figures have been rounded to the nearest ten.- This is unpublished data and, as such, it does not meet the quality standard required for official statistics publication. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.- Data taken from the Decision Making and Case Recording system- Figures are for GB only- Figures are correct as at 7 June 2016

Employment: Disability

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on halving the disability employment gap.

Justin Tomlinson: In the last two years, the number of disabled people in work has increased by 365,000. But we recognise that the gap between the employment rates of disabled people and non-disabled people remains too large. That is why we are committed to halving it. Progress against the disability employment gap is a key factor in progress towards full employment. This is consistent with the Government’s manifesto commitment which said ‘as part of our objective to achieve full employment, we will aim to halve the disability employment gap’. The annual report on progress towards full employment will include an update on the Government’s progress towards halving the disability employment gap. We plan to produce a Green Paper later this year that starts to reframe the discussion with disabled people and their representative organisations and points towards long-term reform.

State Retirement Pensions

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to prevent cliff edge effects in its policy on the equalisation of the state pension.

Justin Tomlinson: The government has taken steps to smooth the equalisation of State Pension age between men and women in the Pensions Act 2011. The increase in State Pension age for women from age 63 to age 65 is phased in between April 2016 and December 2018. The timetable for equalising State Pension age at 65 for women and men and for the increase to 66 was accelerated by the Pensions Act 2011 following sharp increases in life expectancy projections. At that time a concession worth £1.1 billion was introduced by the government to limit the impact of the rising state pension age on those most affected. The concession capped the maximum delay that anyone would face in claiming their State Pension to 18 months rather than two years, relative to the previous timetable.

Employment: Older People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to help older women and men into work.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP recognises and welcomes the valuable knowledge and skills that older workers bring to the work place. There are now more older people in employment than ever before, 9.6 million 50+ workers in the UK – an increase of over a million (1.3 million) over the last 5 years. As well as access to the full Jobcentre Plus offer of personalised support, we introduced Older Claimant Champions in Jobcentre Plus, and have run two yearlong trials from April 2015 to test how we support older people where age is a barrier to them finding work. The trials are being evaluated and initial results will be available in autumn 2016. The Government intends to publish a new, employer-led national strategy later this year, setting out the future direction of the Fuller Working Lives agenda.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who have claimed employment and support allowance after a paper-based review were refused a paper-based review upon re-assessment for that allowance in each year since 2009-10.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many requests for paper-based reviews for employment and support allowance were submitted in each year since 2009-10; and how many of those claims were (a) accepted and (b) rejected.

Priti Patel: The information you have requested is not available. The decision as to whether a paper-based review is appropriate is made by the Healthcare Professional. Their decision on whether to do so is based on evidence provided by the claimant to support their claim including all medical evidence from the claimant’s GP, hospital doctor or other appropriate clinicians.

Personal Independence Payment: Arthritis

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to collect data on the number of people with arthritis who qualify for personal independence payments on the basis of their need to use aids and appliances.

Justin Tomlinson: The department routinely collects management information on the descriptors awarded to each claimant when they have a PIP assessment. In the PIP assessment, individuals are assessed on their ability to complete a number of key every day activities (for example, relating to the ability to dress and undress). Within each activity there are a number of descriptors, each representing a varying level of ability to carry out the activity. A descriptor may indicate the need to use an aid or appliance. Data on the claimant’s primary disabling condition is recorded for those individuals who have a PIP assessment. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which their decision is based, but only the primary condition is recorded.

Access to Work Programme: Hearing Impairment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Access to Work programme for young deaf people; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: Access to Work continues to support deaf people and people with hearing loss. Access to Work has specialist teams including a dedicated team for deaf people and those with hearing loss to help customers and their employers with advice on adjustments, technological support and personal budgets which are currently being trialled. The number of people in general helped by Access to Work has grown in each of the three years to 2014/15 and are published quarterly here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/514468/access-to-work-statistics-to-dec-2015.pdf

Health and Safety Executive: Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reductions in funding for the Health and Safety Executive in the period to 2019-20 on occupational health and safety; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 May 2016 to Question 37593

Personal Independence Payment: Arthritis

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people who qualify for personal independence payments on the basis of their need of use of aids and appliances have arthritis.

Justin Tomlinson: For claimants with Arthritis who were awarded the Daily Living component of Personal Independence Payment between April 2013 and October 2015, 52% gained all of their points from Aids and Appliances. The source of the data is the PIP computer system. This is unpublished data and, as such, it does not meet the quality standard required for official statistics publication. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision. Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.

Television: Licensing

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will develop plans to include TV Licensing in the Tell Us Once service.

Priti Patel: We are currently reviewing the strategic approach, to support citizens in the wider bereavement journey to support the Government’s 2020 vision and the better use of data across government. This review will include the Tell Us Once Service and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

Supported Housing

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to involve providers in the review of supported housing.

Justin Tomlinson: The DWP and DCLG jointly commissioned evidence review has included extensive consultation with local authorities, supported accommodation commissioners, and all categories of supported housing providers, including charities, housing associations, voluntary organisations and others from the commercial sector.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment Outcomes Made on Paper Evidence, published on 19 November 2012, if he will publish the figures for tables 1, 2 and 3 for the financial years 2102-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost to the public purse was of processing a mandatory reconsideration of a (a) universal credit and (b) jobseeker's allowance sanction in the latest period for which figures are available.

Priti Patel: The information is not available at the level of detail requested.

Supported Housing: Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he has issued to supported housing providers about funding following the absorption of housing benefit into universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department provides guidance for any changes made to Housing Benefit.

Ministry of Defence

War Graves

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in the transfer of military graves maintained by the Ministry of Defence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Mark Lancaster: Since the Chancellor's 2015 Autumn Statement announcement concerning the renovation and maintenance of over 6,000 graves of Service personnel, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has carried out a considerable amount of work to drive this project forward; a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) governing the project has been developed and is currently being considered by all parties, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and HM Treasury colleagues. The MOD has also provided the CWGC with data for over 6,000 graves to enable the CWGC to conduct a scoping exercise and identify the locations it will assume responsibility for.We expect the MOU to be finalised shortly, after which the CWGC will submit a costings report to MOD for consideration. Once the scoping exercise has concluded and all parties are satisfied with the terms of the proposed transfer, the CWGC will be invited to take over maintenance responsibilities.

HMS Queen Mary: Salvage

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the Government has been made aware of involvement of any British nationals in looting of HMS Queen Mary which was sunk in the Battle of Jutland.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he has received of looting by salvage teams of the wreck of HMS Queen Mary which was sunk in the Battle of Jutland; and whether his Department has been presented with any evidence of such looting.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence became aware of the possible illegal salvage of items from HMS Queen Mary in 2011. After due consideration, and following liaison with UK and international prosecution authorities, it was concluded by the Ministry of Defence Police that no further action could be taken. We are not aware of any British nationals being involved in this case or of any current illegal salvage on the Jutland wreck sites. Should such activity come to our attention the matter would be reported to the Ministry of Defence Police.

Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to publish the draft statutory instrument on the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee; and what consultations he plans to conduct before that draft legislation is published.

Mark Lancaster: It is our aim to publish the statutory instrument by the end of the year. As was made clear during the passage of the Armed Forces Act, this legislation will provide a statutory basis for the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committee (VA&PC) to provide advice and deal with complaints in relation to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme 2005, and future compensation schemes enacted under the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation Scheme) Act 2004. Formal consultation about these provisions is not necessary. The Ministry of Defence will continue to work with the VA&PC and will keep them updated.

Mediterranean Sea: Human Trafficking

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the length of time for which UK naval resources will be committed to Operation Sophia.

Penny Mordaunt: We have committed to maintain our naval vessel HMS ENTERPRISE in Operation SOPHIA until August 2016. We will continue to assess our contribution in line with the changing mandate and requirements of the operation.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in his Department in 2015-16.

Mark Lancaster: The amount spent on non-payroll staff in 2015-16 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants in his Department are paid through limited companies.

Mark Lancaster: No civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence are paid through limited companies.

Ministry of Defence: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of staff in his Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Mark Lancaster: The table below shows the number of payroll and non-payroll appointments made by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in each of the last six Financial Years (FY). FYPayroll staffNon-Payroll staff2010-1166,1871,5712011-1262,7361,7012012-1354,9731,7642013-1452,9923,4402014-1552,2783,7392015-1652,2953,646 Off-payroll workers play an important role in helping the MOD meet short term needs for specialist advice and interim service. Information about the MOD’s senior payroll appointees engaged for over £220 a day for more than six months, and those of its Arm’s Length Bodies have been published in the relevant Annual Reports and Accounts since FY 2012-13.

Ascension Island: Piers

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has conducted of whether military personnel and contractors are able safely to load and unload equipment from Ministry of Defence vessels onto the pier head at Ascension Island.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what health and safety assessment his Department has conducted on military personnel or contractors loading or unloading equipment from his Department's vessels onto the pier head at Ascension Island.

Mr Philip Dunne: The loading and unloading of freight from Ministry of Defence chartered vessels is conducted by the Ascension Island Government. A Health and Safety and Environmental Risk Assessment of loading/unloading equipment at the Ascension Islands pier head was undertaken by the Joint Forces Command Health and Safety lead in September 2015.

Defence

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what detailed plans he has for the defence of the UK.

Michael Fallon: Our plans for the defence of the UK were set out in the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review in November 2015. Under National Security Objective 1, Protect our People, we have chosen to: invest in agile, capable and globally deployable Armed Forces and security and intelligence agencies to protect the UK and project our power globally; prioritise the fight against terrorism, radicalisation and extremism at home and overseas; develop cyber security measures; strengthen our capabilities to disrupt serious and organised crime; and improve the Government's crisis management architecture.

Brompton Road Station

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, what checks were made on the provenance of the funds used to purchase Brompton Road underground station.

Mark Lancaster: In accordance with normal practice the independent marketing agents analysed the leading bids and bidders. Mr Firtash was regarded as a high net worth individual capable of meeting the contractual obligations.The Ministry of Defence (MOD) took a 10% deposit (over £5 million) on exchange of contracts and later a legal charge at completion to secure payment obligations. In addition, all funds were paid to the MOD through UK regulated solicitors, in accordance with normal practice, to ensure that appropriate financial checks were made on their client.

Brompton Road Station

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, who made the highest bid for Brompton Road underground station.

Mark Lancaster: The purchaser, Dmitri Firtash made the highest bid.

Ministry of Defence: Scotland

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.

Michael Fallon: I have visited Scotland six times in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election.

Unmanned Marine Vehicles

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Navy has deployed any unmanned maritime systems for the purpose of (a) anti-submarine and (b) port and harbour security.

Penny Mordaunt: The Royal Navy currently deploys unmanned systems to enhance maritime surveillance and improve situational awareness in a number of air and sea environments.I am withholding further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Brompton Road Station

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, who the named official was who was responsible for the sale of Brompton Road underground station.

Mark Lancaster: The official responsible for the sale of Brompton Road has now retired, the senior official responsible for the disposals programme has left the Department.

Brompton Road Station

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, whether his Department was aware of the FBI investigation into Dmitri Firtash when it sold Brompton Road underground station.

Mark Lancaster: The Department was not aware of the FBI investigation at the point of sale.

Brompton Road Station

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, who the independent marketing agent was for the sale of Brompton Road underground station.

Mark Lancaster: The independent marketing agent was Jones Lang LaSalle.

Brompton Road Station

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, who the 12 bidders were for Brompton Road underground station.

Mark Lancaster: The names of the 12 bidders cannot be released as to do so would prejudice commercial interests.

Middle East: Military Intervention

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any RAF personnel have carried out airstrikes outside the coalition mission in the Iraq and Syria conflict zone since 2 December 2015.

Penny Mordaunt: RAF personnel have not carried out airstrikes outside the coalition mission in the Iraq and Syria conflict zone since 2 December 2015.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has demonstrated the capability of Certified Predator B for the duration of the Protector programme.

Mr Philip Dunne: Following an extensive Assessment Phase, the Department has concluded that the GA-ASI Certified Predator B is the only platform capable of meeting the Protector Programme's Key User Requirements. Certified Predator B is a modification of the highly successful Predator B platform which incorporates a number of safety and capability enhancements.The Demonstration Phase of the Programme, which will follow approval of the Programme's Main Gate Business Case, will subject Certified Predator B to a comprehensive Test and Evaluation Plan to demonstrate the system's ability to meet the Department's requirements for the capability through its expected in-service life.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what timeline has been proposed for publication of the revised Joint Doctrinal Note on UK Unmanned Systems.

Penny Mordaunt: Joint Doctrine Publication (JDP) 0-30.2, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, (which will replace Joint Doctrine Note 2/11, The UK Approach to Unmanned Aircraft Systems) was endorsed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Joint Doctrine and Concepts Board in November 2015 with an agreed timeline for the MOD Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre to produce it in mid-2016. On current plans JDP 0-30.2 is expected to be published in July 2016.

Puma Helicopters

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33645, how many Puma Mk2 helicopters are fitted with the Wire Strike Protection System; and whether the Puma Mk2  that crashed in Afghanistan on 11 October 2015 was fitted with such a system.

Mr Philip Dunne: Seven Puma Mk2 helicopters have been fitted with the Wire Strike Protection System. The remainder of the fleet will have the system fitted by the end of summer 2017.The helicopter you refer to (XW229) was not fitted with the Wire Strike Protection System. The Service Inquiry into the incident is on-going and findings are yet to be published.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 26 April 2016 to Question 35103, what the role is of the Liaison Officers deployed in Saudi coalition headquarters.

Mark Lancaster: UK Liaison Officers located in Saudi Headquarters exchange information between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to give the UK a better degree of insight into Saudi processes.They remain under UK command and control and are not embedded with the Saudis. They do not provide training or advice on International Humanitarian Law compliance, and have no role in the Saudi targeting chain.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost of upgrading the mission software on F35B Lightning II aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force after the completion of Block 3F testing.

Mr Philip Dunne: The UK is part of a collaborative partnership on F-35 and therefore pays a shared contribution to the development of capability beyond the Block 3F capability. The cost of this activity, although provisionally estimated, has yet to be finalised with industry and is the subject of on-going discussion with the eight Partner Nations. As these costs will be the subject of commercial negotiations over the coming year, they cannot be made public at this time.

Iraq: Islamic State

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support the armed forces is providing to Iraqi forces related to the conflict with Daesh in Falujah.

Penny Mordaunt: As part of Coalition forces, the RAF is conducting airstrikes against Daesh targets in support of ISF operations in Fallujah.

Syria: Military Intervention

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports he has received on the extent of the withdrawal of Russian forces from the conflict in Syria.

Penny Mordaunt: Russia withdrew some close air support aircraft and associated engineering capacity earlier this year. However, around the time of their withdrawal, Russia increased its attack helicopter fleet and, therefore, our assessment is that the net effect on Russian deployed capability in Syria has been low.

Armed Forces: General Practitioners

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) army, (b) navy and (c) RAF personnel have registered with a doctor in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: The following table provides the number of UK Armed Forces personnel with a Defence Medical Services registration at a Ministry of Defence (MOD) medical practice in Scotland at various points in time since 1 July 2013: As atNaval ServiceArmyRAFTotal1 July 20134,1703,8403,08011,0801 July 20144,1903,7902,58010,5601 July 20154,2603,4101,1909,6501 April 20164,8203,8901,92010,640   It should be noted that due to rounding, subtotals by Service will not always add up to the total. The MOD does not hold records of all Armed Forces personnel and Veterans who are registered with an NHS medical practice in Scotland.

Military Aircraft: Ministers

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate the Government has made of the cost to the public purse to date of the adaptation of the Voyager aircraft for the transport of senior ministers.

Mr Philip Dunne: To date the Departmental spend to convert one Voyager aircraft's cabin into an enhanced configuration is £8.9 million out of a total estimated cost of £9.6 million.The aircraft's primary role will continue to be aircraft refuelling.

Armed Forces: Vehicles

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of each type of vehicle procured as part of urgent operational requirements for (a) Operation Herrick and (b) Operation Telic have been returned to the UK.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information on more than 19 vehicle types used over 13 years of both Operation Herrick and Operation Telic is not held centrally and could be provided only at disapproportionate cost.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Jackal and (b) Foxhound patrol vehicles were in use by the Army in each of the last six years.

Mr Philip Dunne: The numbers of Jackal reconnaissance and Foxhound protected patrol vehicles in use with the Army in each of the last six years are shown in the table below. YearJackalFoxhound2015-20164414002014-20154414002013-20144414002012-2013441-5022162011-2012441-5022162010-201150212 Fleet size numbers are assessed as at 1 April each year. There were 61 Jackals damaged beyond economic repair between 1 April 2011 and 31 March.

Iraq: Kurds

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing a British field hospital for Kurdish Peshmerga; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide field surgical teams for the Peshmerga Regional Government.

Penny Mordaunt: The UK keeps its contribution to the Global Counter-Daesh Coalition in Iraq (including the Kurdish region) under review with wider Coalition partners, but has no plans to deploy a field hospital to the region. Any such deployment would need to be carefully balanced against medical commitments to current and future planned operations.

Deepcut Barracks

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a Board of Inquiry was held following the deaths of the recruits at Deepcut barracks between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: A Board of Inquiry was held into each of the deaths at Deepcut; Private Sean Benton on 9 June 1995; Private Cheryl James on 27 November 1995; Private Geoff Gray on 17 September 2001 and Private James Collinson on 23 March 2002. All are available on the gov.uk website

Deepcut Barracks

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will write to the Chief Constables of Surrey and Devon  and Cornwall Police Forces to request that they place in the public domain their reports into the deaths at Deepcut barracks between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: It would be inappropriate for me to try and influence the decisions of the Chief Constables of those Police Forces on how they handle their investigation material.

Deepcut Barracks

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the library the evidence provided by the Royal Military Police to the (a) Surrey Police and (b) Devon and Cornwall Police inquiries into deaths at Deepcut barracks between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: No. Evidence provided by the Royal Military Police to Surrey police and Devon and Cornwall Police was gathered for the purpose of investigations and proceedings by a public authority. Release of the material may prejudice any current or future investigations by the Police, or by other public authorities such as the Coroners Court

Deepcut Barracks

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps have been taken by his Department as a result of the recommendations of the Review by Sir Nicholas Blake QC of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four soldiers at Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut between 1999 and 2002, published in 2006, relating to statements detailed in the Appendix to that review by civilian staff and recruits of (a) sexual harassment, (b) sexual assault and (c) bullying at that base; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Appendices four and five of Sir Nicholas' Report refer to allegations made in statements to Surrey Police. The hon. Member would need to contact the Home Secretary to establish what action was taken by Surrey Police in response to individual cases.The Government's response to Sir Nicholas' Report was published in June 2006, and the Army has already implemented significant changes to the way we train our young people since 1995. We have invested considerably in the provision of welfare support for both those in training and their families. In addition, we now put great priority on training our instructors to ensure that they get the very best from their trainees; our philosophy is very much to 'train in rather than select out'. Our instructor ratios are now greatly improved and, as a minimum, we provide one instructor per 12 trainees during their initial training. All Armed Forces training sites are now subject to independent scrutiny by Ofsted inspectors and their assessments help us to drive continuous improvement. Ofsted's recently published report on 'Duty of Care and Welfare in Armed Forces Initial Training' found all the establishments they visited to be either good or excellent.Underpinning all of these changes, the Chief of the General Staff has a very clear zero tolerance of any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination. All allegations of mistreatment are taken very seriously and we encourage any allegation of unacceptable behaviour to be raised to the attention of the Chain of Command to be investigated accordingly and action taken where appropriate. Any allegation of rape and sexual assault, or any other offence which may have a sexual element, must always be referred to the Service Police.

Islamic State

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State, House of Lords Official Report, 27 April 2016, Column 1229, how many independent service police investigations have been carried out on allegations of civilian casualties during operations against Daesh in Iraq and Syria in the last five years.

Penny Mordaunt: None.

Armed Forces: Mefloquine

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will assess the effect of the use of Lariam on the quality of performance of military personnel on operations.

Mark Lancaster: Mefloquine (commercially known as Lariam) is an effective anti-malarial that is used by many militaries to protect their personnel while on operations. There is no defined caveat from any advisory body in the world that suggests the use of mefloquine should be restricted in military personnel or people who handle weapons.Although there is no evidence that mefloquine impairs function, in accordance with guidance from Public Health England, the Civil Aviation Authority and others, the drug is not used by military aircrew. Mefloquine is also not used by divers, as its side effects could potentially be confused with decompression or narcosis events.In October 2015, the results were published of a Ministry of Defence questionnaire-based study of anti-malarial use by UK Service personnel training in Kenya during 2012 and 2013. This found that significantly more doxycycline than mefloquine users reported that one or more adverse effects had interfered with their ability to do their job.

HMS Lancaster

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Lancaster is in a state of extended readiness.

Mr Philip Dunne: HMS LANCASTER is presently alongside in Portsmouth and is maintained with a minimal Ship's Company on board until her refit.The Royal Navy has determined that HMS LANCASTER is not required as a training platform ahead of her refit, therefore a number of her Ship's Company have been redeployed in support of operational units and tasks.Such planned programming enables the Royal Navy to optimise the use of its ships and personnel through the operational cycles. The normal operating cycle of every ship includes periods of low readiness, and a number of ships will enter periods of 'low' or 'very low' readiness depending on their programmes and departmental planning requirements. It remains Ministry of Defence policy not to publish details of the readiness states of individual Royal Navy vessels for reasons of safeguarding national security.

HMS Dauntless

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether HMS Dauntless is being used as a harbour training and accommodation ship.

Mr Philip Dunne: The introduction of Engineering Training Ships is an important component of the Royal Navy's comprehensive programme to improve training and career development opportunities by increasing training capacity.Ships in the operating cycle immediately ahead of refit will be used to deliver training alongside home Bases and Ports. HMS DAUNTLESS entered this profile in February this year. A reduced Ship's Company reside on board as normal, augmented by trainees who use the opportunity to gain experience through development activities in a realistic environment.

Iraq: Kurds

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what medical assistance the UK provides to the Peshmerga in the Kurdistan region.

Penny Mordaunt: The package of training that the Military training teams are providing to the Peshmerga includes medical instruction equivalent to the mandatory annual training for battlefield casualties that is delivered to UK troops.

Iraq: Kurds

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will support the provision of specialist treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for seriously injured Peshmerga from the Kurdistan region in Iraq.

Penny Mordaunt: We would consider whether to support any individual case for such treatment on its merits. The limited treatment provided in the UK to foreign nationals in the past has only been offered in very exceptional circumstances.

Home Office

UK Membership of EU

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on whether non-UK EU citizens will have to leave the UK after the two-year Article 50 negotiation period in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

James Brokenshire: Should there be a vote to leave, we will need to follow the rules for exit, which are set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This is the only lawful route available to withdraw from the EU.Article 50 provides for a two year negotiation, which would cover the UK’s access to the EU’s Single Market, including the free movement of people.

Immigrants: Social Security Benefits

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that benefit applications by people who have been granted the right to remain in the UK are not affected by the time taken for confirmation of leave to remain.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 08 June 2016



Following a grant of permission to remain on a basis that provides access to benefits, individuals are issued with written confirmation that there are no longer any restrictions on them living and working in the UK. The letter confirms that a Biometric Residence Permit will normally be issued within 7 days from the date of decision, which can then be used as evidence of immigration status in support of any application for benefits.

Vetting

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service had been in process for more than 30 days in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service took longer than 30 days to process in 2014-15.

Karen Bradley: As of 31 May 2016, the DBS had 78,596 disclosure applications in progress which were over 30 days old. In 2015/16, the DBS processed 86.9% of applications within 21 days, against a target of 85%.In 2014-15 the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) issued 4,111,856 disclosures. 400,883 of these took longer than 30 days.The DBS is reliant on police forces completing their checks in a timely manner and is working closely with those forces whose performance does not meet turnaround time targets.

Vetting

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications the Disclosure and Barring Service has processed in each week of the last six months.

Karen Bradley: The number of disclosures dispatched by the Disclosure and Barring Service in each week for each of the last six months is listed in the following table.W/C DateTotal Disclosures Despatched29/11/201582,67906/12/201579,44813/12/201576,15220/12/201555,90327/12/201523,64203/01/201662,54110/01/201678,96917/01/201686,47924/01/201680,22131/01/201679,62607/02/201669,47114/02/201691,29321/02/201680,03828/02/201686,28806/03/201681,61813/03/201685,74220/03/201669,14727/03/201667,18303/04/201619,43110/04/2016140,61217/04/201683,42424/04/201684,59701/05/201673,45508/05/201684,65115/05/201691,58822/05/201689,172Grand Total2,003,370

Vetting

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Adult First applications to the Disclosure and Barring Service are dealt with promptly.

Karen Bradley: The Disclosure and Barring Service has a target to complete 98% of Adult First Checks within 48 hours. In 2015/16, 99.3% of such checks were completed within this time frame.

Vetting

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to assess how many people have had (a) offers of employment rescinded and (b) their employment terminated due to the time taken for Disclosure and Barring Service checks to be concluded.

Karen Bradley: No assessment has been made of the impact of timeliness on the numbers of offers of employment rescinded or terminated.Disclosure and Barring Service performance is closely monitored and in the vast majority of cases (95%), disclosure certificates are issued within 8 weeks (2015/16).In exceptional cases, where it is apparent that a delay is likely to cause undue hardship to an applicant, the DBS will do all it can to expedite the process by raising an escalation with the relevant police force.

Vetting: Dulwich and West Norwood

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has a target for when the time taken to process Disclosure and Barring Service applications for residents of Dulwich and West Norwood constituency will routinely be completed within 60 days or less.

Karen Bradley: In the last 12 months (April 2015 – May 2016), 85% of applications from people living in Dulwich and West Norwood constituency were completed within 60 days.The Disclosure and Barring Service is reliant on police forces completing their checks in a timely manner and is working closely with those forces whose performance does not meet turnaround time targets.

Asylum: Housing

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding criteria are included in the terms and conditions of Compass Contracts awarded for providing accommodation to asylum seekers.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 08 June 2016



The COMPASS providers are contracted to provide Accommodation, transport and related services for asylum applicants based on a per service user basis. The contracts define the required performance standards expected of all providers and also contain prescribed performance and governance regimes.In line with government transparency commitments details of the standards required are already in the public domain. The particular document that details the standards is titled ‘COMPASS Project Schedule 2 - Statement of Requirements’ and is available on the Contracts Finder Archive on the Data.Gov.UK Website at:https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/487962/

Asylum: Housing

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Compass contracts for asylum accommodation, if she will publish (a) the codes of discipline that providers have in place pursuant to 1.2.9.2 of the Compass Statement of Requirements and (b) how many breaches of such codes took place in each year since 2013-14.

James Brokenshire: In accordance with the contract Statement of Requirements, COMPASS providers have submitted code of discipline and behaviour for their employees to the Home Office for approval prior to the Contract Commencement Date, and ensure that all staff adheres to the code throughout the term of the Contract.The codes of discipline are published on provider websites and issued to all service users upon entering accommodation. I will place a copy of the ‘codes of discipline’ for each of the providers in the House Library. The Home Office does not centrally record the number of breaches of disciplinary code.

Asylum: Housing

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Compass contracts for asylum accommodation, if she will publish (a) copies of the training programmes that providers have in place pursuant to 1.2.9.2 of the Compass Statement of Requirements and (b) the dates on which such training took place in each year since 2013-14.

James Brokenshire: In accordance with the contract Statement of Requirements, COMPASS providers ensure that the recruitment, selection and training of its staff, including persons employed by or as agents of sub-contractors to the Provider, are consistent with the standards of service required for the performance of the service. The Providers fully equip and train staff (including volunteers) in regular contact with service users and responsible for the safety and security of Service Users and dependent children to ensure they are able to fulfil their roles and ensure that appropriate and sufficient security provisions are made for all staff undertaking face-to-face activities.The delivery of training by providers takes place regularly throughout the year, as and when new staff are recruited, and consists of both individual and online learning as well as classroom-based group workshops. The Home Office does not centrally record the dates on which all such training takes place and both the dates and copies of individual module material could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Crimes of Violence: Young People

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the budget has been for the Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation Peer Review Network for each of the last eight years.

Karen Bradley: The Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme, of which the peer review network was a part of, was introduced in 2012.By year, the EGYV programme budget was:• 2012/13 £734,000• 2013/14 £700,000• 2014/15 £500,000• 2015/16 £425,000The EGYV programme budget included funding to pay peer reviewers’ fees and expenses when they undertook work on peer reviews in local areas.We have now completed the stage of work aimed at building local resilience and also have a much better understanding of the problem. Ending gang violence and exploitation remains a priority for the Government and on 13 January 2016 we published a paper setting out our new Ending Gang Violence and Exploitation (EGVE) approach. We are now mainstreaming what we have achieved with local authorities and other partners, and are working in partnership on the new EGVE priorities to reduce violence and gang related exploitation.

Asylum: Families

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the issuing of 30-day entry clearance visas does not inhibit refugee family reunion; and for what reasons such time-limited entry clearance visas are issued.

James Brokenshire: When a family reunion application is made, individuals can specify when they would like the visa to be valid from to take account of their need to make the necessary travel arrangements. If there is any delay expected in the processing time of the application, the individual will be contacted by UKVI and informed about the delay. Where someone is unable to make arrangements to travel to the UK within 30 days, they can apply for a replacement visa.We continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure we deliver further improvements including reviewing the visa issuing processes and associated guidance.

Borders: Coastal Areas

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase border security of the UK coast.

James Brokenshire: Border security is a priority for this Government. We are committed to countering threats to the UK coastline using an intelligence-led approach and through working with the wider law enforcement community. Border Force has long-standing working relationships and intelligence-sharing practices in place, and is increasing interaction with key partners as well as undertaking joint operations in order to disrupt organised criminal gangs looking to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.Border Force and operational partners are conducting activity on a number of fronts to prevent migrants from entering the UK via clandestine and illegal means, strengthening the coordination of maritime security assets so that maximum coverage at sea is delivered.As part of our overall approach, Border Force has begun to implement new operational hubs in Cornwall, the Humber and the Thames Estuary. These new initiatives will see officers situated in these particular areas working with local partners to develop our intelligence picture regarding illegal immigration and smuggling activity.Border Force is also investing in a new fleet of rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBS) as part of a new maritime security strategy. The vessels will patrol the UK coast in conjunction with existing Border Force cutters helping to intercept attempts to smuggle migrants, drugs and dangerous weapons into the country.

Immigrants: Detainees

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Oral Answer of 26 May 2016, Official Report, column 682, how many women she was referring to when she stated that very few pregnant women were detained for immigration purposes.

James Brokenshire: Management information for 26 May 2016 indicate that there were no pregnant women detained under Immigration Act powers in an immigration removal centre or residential short-term holding facility, subject to these conditions.

Firearms: Licensing

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to reduce the time taken for a shotgun and firearm application to be processed.

Mike Penning: Under the Firearms Act 1968, which applies to England, Wales and Scotland, firearm and shotgun certificate administration is a matter for the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant lives. The time taken to process a firearm or shotgun application can vary as the chief officer must take into account the need to manage risk and ensure public protection.The Policing and Crime Bill, which is before Parliament, introduces a power to issue statutory guidance to the police in relation to firearms licensing which should lead to improved consistency in practice across forces.

Home Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in her Department in 2015-16.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office publishes monthly spending data for non-payroll staff. This information is available online, and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workforce-management-information-2016

Home Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of staff in her Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Karen Bradley: Each Home Office Annual Report and Accounts publication includes information relating to payroll (civil servants) and non-payroll (agency and contractors substituting temporarily in civil servant roles as part of our flexible resourcing strategy) staff. Table 1 includes information for each of the financial years from 2010 – 11 to 2014-15. The percentage of non-payroll staff increased in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15 as the Department operated on a lower overall level of permanent civil servants, which was then complemented by more flexible hires to meet seasonal and other temporary demands.Information for the 2015-16 period will be published shortly.



Home Office payroll
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.75 KB)

Home Office: Publications

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department and its executive agencies spent on the publications (a) Who's Who, (b) Burke's Peerage and (c) Debrett's in each year since 2010.

Karen Bradley: This information is not available, except at disproportionate costs.

Immigration Rules: Families

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of (a) immigration rules in general and (b) income requirements on the eligibility of British citizens with non-EU partners to return to the UK and the incidence of family separation.

James Brokenshire: New family Immigration Rules, including a minimum income threshold for British citizens sponsoring a non-EU partner, were implemented on 9 July 2012 to prevent burdens on the taxpayer, promote integration and tackle abuse.We have continued to keep the new Rules under review and to make adjustments in light of feedback on their operation and impact. We have also taken into account the findings of the courts, including the July 2014 Court of Appeal judgment upholding the lawfulness of the minimum income threshold.

Shipping: Security

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to improve the ability of Border Force to gather and exploit information to improve its performance in enforcing general maritime security; and if she will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to improve levels of knowledge within Border Force about the threats and risks associated with maritime and aviation border security; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



Border Force works very closely with law enforcement partners to harness the collective knowledge of risks associated with maritime and aviation security. This includes intelligence flows to Border Force and partner agencies from overseas partners, the maritime and aviation industries, voluntary organisations and the public. Border Force also works with the NCA through a series of Joint Border Intelligence units to share and develop intelligence across all modes including maritime and aviation.The National Maritime Information Centre (NMIC), for which Border Force provides the executive lead, acts as the focal point for all agencies maritime information and provides the UK with unified maritime situational awareness to assist in countering potential threats to UK Maritime Security.

Asylum: Children

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied children arrived in the UK and claimed asylum (a) for each country of origin, (b) by each commercial company who provided transport if known, (c) at each port and (d) in total in each of the last seven years.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



Figures on asylum claims for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) are published quarterly by the Home Office in the Immigration Statistics release. The attached table shows the total number of claims for asylum from Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children, excluding dependants, in the last seven years.YearTotal claims 20092,85720101,51520111,24820121,12520131,26520141,94520153,043 Notes(1) Data for 2015 are provisional and subject to change.(2) An Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC) is a person under 18, or who, in the absence of documentary evidence establishing age, appears to be under that age, is applying for asylum on his or her own right and has no relative or guardian in the United Kingdom.(3) Source: table as_08, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Home OfficeAnnual figures on the number of claims for asylum from Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children by country of nationality are available in table as_08 in volume 3 of the asylum data tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/525627/asylum3-q1-2016-tabs.ods.A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2016.The information requested to answer parts (b) and (c) of the question is not centrally and systematically recorded and to provide this information would require the manual investigation of thousands of case files at a disproportionate cost.

European Union: Borders

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on the proposals in the European Commission press release, A European Border and Coast Guard to protect Europe's External Borders, IP/15/6327; and if she will estimate the potential effect of those proposals on the budget of the UK Border Force.

James Brokenshire: The proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard builds on provisions of the Schengen agreement in which the UK does not participate; the UK will not therefore be bound by the new regulation, and will receive a refund on any contributions relating to this proposal, in line with its financing share of the EU budget.The UK is supportive of steps to increase the security of the external Schengen border - we have a strong interest in effective management of the Schengen external border, not just in combating illegal migration, and cross-border crime but also as part of the EU-wide counter-terrorism effort.

Patrol Craft

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional coastal patrol vessels she plans to commission.

James Brokenshire: Border Force recently announced that it will purchase additional patrol vessels to complement the work done by its cutters and enable a greater level of flexible response.

Asylum: EU Law

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her contribution of 4 May 2016, HC Deb Official Report, column 166, whether the unaccompanied children who come to the UK will be eligible to apply for their parents to join them under refugee family reunion rules.

James Brokenshire: Under the family reunion provisions in the Immigration Rules children are not eligible to sponsor parents or grandparents. Allowing them to do so would create a perverse incentive for children to be encouraged, or even forced, to leave existing family units in their countries of origin and risk hazardous journeys to the UK in order to act as sponsors. This would go against our safe guarding responsibilities.Our refugee family reunion policy allows a spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 of those granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK to reunite with them here, providing they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin.There is provision to grant visas outside the Immigration Rules, which caters for those who do not qualify under the rules, where there are exceptional circumstances.

Counter-terrorism

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer to Lord Ahmad of 7 April 2016 to Question HL7297, if her Department will make it its policy to use in all future documents and legislation a definition of extremism which includes the phrase mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, rather than the phrase mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Families

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the decision to introduce a 30-day deadline to travel once a family reunion visa has been issued; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Children

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to accelerate the family reunification process for unaccompanied children in Europe with family in the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Government continues to work with key EU Member States to ensure the Dublin Regulation family reunification process works effectively.Under the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015, the UK and France have committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively. To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent official contact group, agreed single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and we have seconded an asylum expert to the French administration to facilitate the improvement of all stages of the process. The UK and France are running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France and of the family reunion process.We are also providing support to the Dublin Units in Greece and Italy bilaterally and through European Asylum Support Office. On 4 May we announced the Government will work with local authorities on plans to resettle unaccompanied children from Europe. We are looking to transfer children who were already present in Europe before the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March, where it is in their best interests.We will work closely with local authorities to implement this initiative. It is important that we ensure we fulfil our obligations to children who are already in the UK, as well as ensuring we have the right support for those who may be brought to the UK from Europe. We will also consult relevant Non-Governmental Organisations, the UNHCR, UNICEF and Member States.

Administration of Justice: Saudi Arabia

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which services have been sold for profit by (a) her Department and (b) the College of Policing to the Saudi criminal justice system in the last five years.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received on the College of Policing's relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) the College of Policing have travelled to Saudi Arabia to discuss the British police force training given to the Saudi Arabian police force in the last three years.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her Saudi Arabian counterpart on the use of the advanced cyber-crime courses provided by the College of Policing to target pro-democracy activists in that country.

Mike Penning: We are rightly proud of the British model of policing by consent and of the high level of skill and expertise across policing in this country. The College of Policing, which is independent of Government, ensures that respect for human rights and dignity is integral to each programme it delivers.Course developers and trainers are required to include a bespoke human rights and ethical decision-making element in each course. Before undertaking any international work, the College refers to the International Policing Assistance Board (IPAB), which assesses all requests against British values and interests. IPAB comprises policing representatives and those from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for International Development and devolved administrations.The College always acts in accordance with HM Treasury’s guidelines on ‘Managing Public Money’, which includes guidance on commercial charging rates. The Home Office do not keep records on the travel of College of Policing officials.

Undocumented Migrants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many clandestine entrants of each nationality were identified within the UK in each of the last 10 years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Undocumented Migrants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the programme managed by Capita to identify and remove overstayers; when the contract with Capita for that programme is due for renewal; whether she plans to make any amendments to the terms of that contract; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Travel Restrictions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been refused permission to board flights to the UK as a result of checks carried out by airlines in each of the last seven years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Undocumented Migrants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many prosecutions of people involved in providing transport for illegal immigrants there have been in the each of the last seven years.

James Brokenshire: Individuals prosecuted for smuggling illegal immigrants/stowaways in their vehicles – in the period 2014 to 2016 as set out below:2014/2015 - 522015/2016 - 88Prior to March 2014, this information was not recorded centrally.

Asylum: EU Law

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the number of people whose asylum application has been transferred for consideration by the Government under the Dublin III Regulation as part of quarterly immigration statistics.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The information published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics is kept under review, taking into account the needs of users, burdens on suppliers and producers, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. There are currently no plans to publish data relating to asylum applications transferred under Dublin III Regulation.

Refugees

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36277, how many requests have been made for asylum applications to be transferred for consideration by the UK from (a) Greece and (b) Italy since UK experts were deployed to support the respective Dublin units.

James Brokenshire: Whilst all asylum claims including those accepted under Dublin III are registered on the Home Office Case Information Database (CID), this data is not currently held in a way that allows it to be reported on automatically and is therefore not currently available.

Drugs: Misuse

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the effect of the introduction of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.

Mike Penning: We are committed to monitoring the impact of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 which commenced on the 26 May.Section 58 of the Act commits the Secretary of State to review the operation of the Act, prepare a report of the review, and lay a copy of the report before Parliament 30 months after the commencement of the Act. This review will therefore report its findings in late 2018.Since commencement, the police have made arrests across the country of those involved in the supply of psychoactive substances; a number of head-shops have ceased trading and many more have handed in their remaining stock to be destroyed; and action by the National Crime Agency has resulted in the removal of psychoactive substances from sale by United Kingdom based websites.

Asylum: EU Law

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many full-time equivalent officials in her Department are responsible for identifying, verifying and processing potential Dublin Regulation transfer cases.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The Home Office has a unit processing Dublin III asylum transfer requests from and to the United Kingdom. This unit comprises 78.34 full time equivalent managers, caseworkers and support staff.

Immigration Controls: Shipping

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce compulsory advanced notification for (a) commercial and (b) pleasure craft of arrival in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Road Traffic Offences: Evidence

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues to police forces on the provision of photographic evidence, where available, to people who have committed road traffic offences.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has not issued any guidance on the provision of photographic evidence to those who have committed road traffic offences.This is an operational matter for individual Chief Officers of police.

Road Traffic Offences: Fines

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many penalty charges have been issued for motorway middle lane offences since the legislation governing those charges came into force.

Mike Penning: The Home Office publishes data on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for motoring offences each year, as part of the ‘Police Powers and Procedures’ statistical bulletin. However, data are not held specifically on motorway middle lane offences. These would be captured under the broader category of careless driving offences, which also includes offences such as tailgating and aggressive driving.The published data can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales

Slavery

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 have been used to (a) protect victims of slavery and (b) target traffickers.

Karen Bradley: The Act is already having a significant impact. All victims of modern slavery can now access the support they need. In 2015 alone, the police and CPS prosecuted 12 defendants using the new modern slavery offences and used Slavery and Trafficking Prevention and Risk Orders on at least 12 occasions. Over 100 businesses have published slavery and human trafficking statements. And the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner is spreading best practice and helped to secure the UN’s first ever Goal to end modern slavery.

Police: Greater London

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what meetings she plans to hold with the Mayor of London and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to discuss the policing structure in London.

Mrs Theresa May: I, and the Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice and Victims, hold regular bilateral meetings with the Mayor of London, and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. These meetings cover a range of issues that are salient at the time of the meeting.

Slavery

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Karen Bradley: The Act is already having a significant impact. All victims of modern slavery can now access the support they need. In 2015 alone, the police and CPS prosecuted 12 defendants using the new modern slavery offences and used Slavery and Trafficking Prevention and Risk Orders on at least 12 occasions. Over 100 businesses have published slavery and human trafficking statements. And the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner is spreading best practice and helped to secure the UN’s first ever Goal to end modern slavery.

Emergency Services

Amanda Milling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to promote joint working between police forces and fire services to improve the service they provide to the public.

Mrs Theresa May: I, and the Minister for Policing, Fire and Criminal Justice and Victims, hold regular bilateral meetings with the Mayor of London, and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. These meetings cover a range of issues that are salient at the time of the meeting.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in his Department in 2015-16.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office spend on non-payroll staff in 2015-16 was £121,369.

Scotland Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of staff in his Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

David Mundell: The proportion of Scotland Office staff who were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16 is shown below.YearPayrollNon-payroll2010-11100%0%2011-1296%4%2012-1397%3%2013-1498%2%2014-1591%9%2015-1693%7%

Scotland Office: Domestic Visits

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.

David Mundell: I am frequently in Scotland for a range of meetings, events and official engagements. Details of meetings with external organisations are published in quarterly returns which are available at gov.uk.

HM Treasury

Pension Funds

David Simpson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that private pension providers facilitate access by policyholders to details of their investments.

Harriett Baldwin: At Budget 2016 the government announced that it will ensure the industry designs, funds and launches a pensions dashboard by 2019. This will help people to ensure that people can clearly view all their pension savings in one place. This work will be industry-led. The Treasury is starting the work on catalysing and challenging the industry to deliver and I will set out next steps in due course.

Revenue and Customs: Leaflets

Mrs Anne Main: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of publishing the leaflets entitled Tax credits: coming to the UK - WTC/FS5 and Social Security abroad: N138.

Damian Hinds: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) publishes the WTC/FS5 and NI38 leaflets online at www.gov.uk. The cost of publishing and updating these leaflets online is negligible.The NI38 leaflet is available online only. The WTC/FS5 leaflet was last printed in September 2014 at cost of 142.80 (net). Since demand for print copies of this leaflet is very low, HMRC plans for this leaflet to be only available online from October 2016.

Tax Collection: EU Law

Andrew Stephenson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37088, which body is responsible for publishing information about funds collected through the Mutual Assistance Recovery Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is required to submit information about funds they collect through the Mutual Assistance Recovery Directive (MARD) on an annual basis. HMRC does not publish this information. Under the MARD, the EU Commission is required to produce a regular report summarising the use of the mutual assistance arrangements.

Credit: Disclosure of Information

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions the Government has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on widening the provision of real-time sharing of credit information between banks, other major financial institutions and short-term credit providers.

Harriett Baldwin: Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Financial Conduct Authority to discuss relevant regulatory issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Personal Savings

David Simpson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department plans to take to make young working families aware of ways in which they can access (a) proposed Government schemes in the Lifetime Savings Bill and (b) other Government schemes relating to long-term savings.

Harriett Baldwin: We are committed to supporting savers of all incomes and at all stages of life. From April 2017, the Government will introduce a Lifetime ISA for adults under 40 to help save for a first home or retirement. The Government will also introduce a new Help to Save scheme, available from no later than April 2018, to support working families on low incomes to build up a rainy day fund. The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that all consumers can access high quality, affordable advice so they can make informed decisions about their hard-earned money. That is why we will replace the Money Advice Service with a new commissioning body that will identify gaps in the financial guidance market and commission targeted money guidance accordingly.

Money Laundering

Mike Kane: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to empower regulators and law enforcement agencies to prevent and detect the laundering of corrupt assets through the UK financial system.

Harriett Baldwin: In April, we launched the Action Plan for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist finance, to address the gaps identified in the National Risk Assessment, and to make significant changes to improve our response to threats. The Action Plan will reform the supervisory regime so that the high anti-money laundering standards and controls that the UK subscribes to are implemented successfully.It also commits us to establish an enhanced law enforcement response to the threats we face through building new capabilities in law enforcement agencies and exploring tough new legal powers to enable the relentless disruption and prosecution of criminals and terrorists. Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Summit in May launched a number of new initiatives to address illicit financial flows and give momentum to existing projects.

Soft Drinks: Taxation

Chris Davies: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how his Department determined the bands for the soft drinks industry levy; and what scientific studies were used in reaching that decision.

Damian Hinds: The new levy will be charged on producers and importers of drinks with added sugar. There will be one rate for drinks with total sugar content above 5g/100ml and a higher charge for drinks with more than 8g/100ml of sugar. This structure is clear, simple and transparent. It is designed to encourage producers to reformulate their product mix by removing the added sugar content from drinks and helping consumers choose lower and no sugar brands. The bands have been set to give producers certainty over the next two years before implementation so they can gradually reformulate their products. Companies have until April 2018 before the levy comes into force to reformulate and if they do, they can pay less.

Secured Loans

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made since the Law Commission's consultation and proposals regarding logbook loans; and what steps the Government has taken to review the Bills of Sale Act 1878.

Harriett Baldwin: In September 2014, HM Treasury asked the Law Commission to consider the current law around Bills of Sale. The Law Commission has undertaken a consultation, and has published analysis of the responses. The final report, including recommendations, will be published in due course.

Money Laundering

Mike Kane: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many professional enablers have been sanctioned in the last 12 months for facilitating the laundering of corrupt assets.

Mr David Gauke: The government is committed to making the UK a hostile environment for illicit finance. The National Risk Assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risks is clear that the financial system, because of the size and openness that makes it a world beater, is also exposed to criminality – including abuse by professional enablers in the legal and accountancy sectors. In 2014 there were 2095 prosecutions related to money laundering across all sectors and 1143 people were found guilty. Supervisors under the Money Laundering Regulations also have the power to take enforcement action for supervisory offences ranging from issuing warnings and action plans to remedy weaknesses in controls, through to fines and deregistration. In 2014-15 the various bodies that supervise legal and accountancy sectors recorded 1001 such actions. On top of this, HMRC issued a total of 1368 fines, warnings and action plans, which cover all the businesses they supervise for money laundering purposes: accountants, money service businesses, trust or company service providers, estate agents and high value dealers. In April, we launched the Action Plan for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist finance, which commits us to establish an enhanced law enforcement response to the threats we face through building new capabilities in law enforcement agencies and exploring tough new legal powers to better enable disruption and prosecution of criminals and terrorists.

Occupational Pensions

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people had their trivial commutation of their occupational pension request granted since the announcement of recent changes to pension regulations; and how many such requests have been refused due to the value of a pension exceeding £30,000.

Harriett Baldwin: Trivial commutation allows individuals with modest pension savings in defined benefit schemes to take them as a lump sum. We do not collect information on trivial commutation requests as these requests are not made to HM Revenue and Customs.

Pensions

Owen Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress the Government has made on steps to introduce a pensions dashboard by 2019.

Harriett Baldwin: As people work longer and change jobs more often, pension savings can become confusing. The average person will move employers 11 times over their working life, meaning they could end up with 11 or more private pensions by the time they retire. Research shows that over a third of people approaching retirement find it difficult to keep track of their pension pots. That is why the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced as part of the Budget 2016, that the government will ensure the industry designs, funds and launches a pensions dashboard by 2019. This will help people to clearly view all their pension savings in one place. There are a number of exciting dashboard initiatives already going on and the government is keen to ensure that it does what it can to support the progress made by the industry so far. That is why I am acting as a ministerial champion to support the industry in designing and delivering the dashboard to consumers by 2019. This work will be industry-led. The Treasury is starting the work on catalysing and challenging the industry to deliver and I will set out next steps in due course.

Lloyds Banking Group: Government Shareholding

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to launch the next Lloyds Bank share offer; and what incentives he plans to include in that offer to encourage small shareholders to retain shares that they purchase.

Harriett Baldwin: The government is committed to launching a retail sale of Lloyds Banking Group shares and to fully returning its stake to the private sector in 2016-17. Those applying to invest less than £1,000 will be prioritised. Members of the public will be offered a discount on the market price and, to encourage long term share ownership, investors who hold their shares for more than a year will be entitled to bonus shares.

Taxation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure people are not assigned incorrect tax codes.

Mr David Gauke: Each year HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) carry out rigorous assurance testing of the annual issue of tax codes to ensure a high level of accuracy. For 2016-17 the accuracy of annual PAYE coding notices, (based on information that HMRC receives during the year), is around 99 per cent.HMRC have developed the new online Personal Tax Account which gives customers the ability to review their own personal tax status and encourages them to keep HMRC updated on changes in their personal circumstances to ensure even more customers are paying the correct tax at the right time.

Older People: Payments

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce a payment of £1,000 to each person reaching the age of 100.

Harriett Baldwin: This government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. That is why the government has committed to increasing the State Pension by the triple lock, with someone on a full basic State Pension receiving around £570 more in 2016-17 than if it had been uprated by average earnings since the start of the last Parliament. In total, the government will spend around £95 billion on the State Pension in 2016-17.

EU Budget

Karl McCartney: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has seen the latest draft of the EU Commission's proposals for the (a) EU Budget and (b) any re-assessment and adjustments relating to previous years budgets; and if he will publish those proposals and their effect on the public purse before 23 June 2016.

Mr David Gauke: We have not received any unpublished EU budget proposals or any re-assessments and adjustments relating to EU budgets of previous years. Any budget proposals must conform to the legally binding annual expenditure ceilings agreed in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020.

Mark Samworth

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has met with Mr Mark Samworth in the last six months.

Harriett Baldwin: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Treasury: Scotland

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.

Harriett Baldwin: Treasury Ministers regularly visit all parts of the United Kingdom as part of their official duties. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Taxation

Dan Jarvis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many meetings Ministers of his Department had to discuss tax evasion and avoidance between (a) 5 April 2016 and 5 May 2016 and (b) 6 May 2016 and 6 June 2016.

Mr David Gauke: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed. The government is committed to ensuring that everyone makes a fair contribution towards reducing the deficit. We have already announced, during this Parliament, that we will legislate for over 25 measures to tackle avoidance, evasion and aggressive tax planning, which are forecast to raise £16 billion by 2021. We also announced that HMRC would receive an extra £800 million, at Summer Budget 2015, to fund additional work to 2020-21. This will enable HMRC to recover a cumulative £7.2 billion in tax over the next five years by tackling evasion and non-compliance.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2016 to Question 905207, what definition of the digital economy is used by (a) his Department, (b) the Office of National Statistics and (c) other government bodies.

Mr David Gauke: The Treasury does not have a specific definition of the digital economy, and we are unaware of other attempts by Government bodies to create such a definition.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Public Appointments

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which public appointments (a) she and (b) Ministers of her Department have approved since May 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC Ministers have approved the following public appointments since May 2015 (see attached).



Public appointments by DECC Ministers May 2015-
(Word Document, 15.98 KB)

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Staff

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of civil servants in her Department are (a) female and (b) from an ethnic minority.

Andrea Leadsom: As at 30 April 2016 (a) 50% of permanent Core DECC staff were female and (b) 13% were from an ethnic minority. The percentage of staff in (b) is of those who have declared their ethnicity.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in her Department in 2015-16.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department is in the process of finalising its Annual Report and Accounts – the information will be available in public domain in due course.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many civil servants in her Department are paid through limited companies.

Andrea Leadsom: All Civil Servants employed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change are paid through the departmental payroll system and none are paid through limited companies.

Department for Energy and Climate Change: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of staff in her Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Andrea Leadsom: The proportion of staff who were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff as at 31 March in each year from 2010-2011 to 2015-16 is set out in table 1. Payroll staff includes permanent staff, Short and Fixed Term Appointments, inward loans and secondments (where on payroll). Non-payroll includes agency staff, specialist contractors and consultants. Table 1 PayrollNon-payroll201192%8%2012 89%11%201388%12%201491%9%201589%11%201694%6%

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will estimate the average reduction in electricity bills in Great Britain for households in receipt of the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Andrea Leadsom: In 2014/15 over 2.1m households received £140 off their electricity bills as a result of the Warm Home Discount. Under the Industry Initiatives element of the scheme nearly 28,000 households received an average of £548 debt assistance with their energy bills in 2014/15.

Warm Home Discount Scheme: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent representations she has received on the extension of the Warm Home Discount Scheme to Northern Ireland.

Andrea Leadsom: During the recent public consultation on the Warm Home Discount Scheme, there were six responses asking for the scheme to be extended to Northern Ireland. We will publish the response to the consultation as soon as we can.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much has been contributed by energy suppliers towards the rebate on electricity bills under the Warm Home Discount Scheme in each year since 2010.

Andrea Leadsom: From 2011 to 2015, energy suppliers spent a total of £868m on electricity bill rebates under the Core and Broader Group elements of the Warm Home Discount. The annual breakdown is set out below. Scheme yearTotal contribution on rebatesScheme year 1 ( 2011/2012)£112.3mScheme Year 2 (2012/2013)£198.1mScheme Year 3 (2013/2014)£248.66mScheme Year 4 (2014/2015)£309.3m We expect that at least £286m has been spent by suppliers on direct rebates in 2015/16. From 2011 to 2015, households have also received other assistance through the Warm Home Discount to the value of £264m. Government announced in the Spending Review in November 2015 that the Warm Home Discount scheme would be extended to 2020/21 at current levels of £320m per year, rising with inflation, to help households who are at risk of fuel poverty with their energy bills. Further details can be found in Ofgem’s annual reports at: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/warm-home-discount-annual-report-scheme-year-4.

Warm Home Discount Scheme: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussion she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the possible extension of the Warm Home Discount Scheme to Northern Ireland.

Andrea Leadsom: The extension of the Warm Home Discount Scheme to Northern Ireland was debated in Parliament on 2 March 2015. A transcript of the debate is at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm150302/debtext/150302-0004.htm DECC officials continue to discuss fuel poverty issues with officials in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Energy Company Obligation

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households in each (a) region of and (b) parliamentary constituency in the UK received the Energy Company Obligation (i) between 2010 and 2015 and (ii) since May 2015.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department reported on 17th March 2016, the number of households in receipt of ECO measures by region (Table 2.2.3) and by Parliamentary Constituency (Table 2.2.5) up to end December 2015, in the Household Energy Efficiency National Statistics release here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/household-energy-efficiency-national-statistics-headline-release-march-2016 Updated figures covering the period to end March 2016 will be published in due course. Breakdowns since the beginning of ECO (January 2013) by Parliamentary term are not published, but have been included below by region and in the accompanying table by Parliamentary Constituency. Table 1: Households in receipt of ECO measures by region, by Parliamentary term, up to end December 2015Area namesJan 2013 - Apr 2015May 2015 - Dec 2015Households in receipt of ECO measuresGreat Britain1,179,655188,0331,367,688England980,791154,0801,134,871North East77,1697,77884,947North West218,94131,905250,846Yorkshire and The Humber120,72319,911140,634East Midlands77,98013,63591,615West Midlands138,38122,651161,032East70,26512,75083,015London96,10014,437110,537South East106,87419,023125,897South West74,35811,99086,348Wales57,1699,04166,210Scotland141,69524,912166,607

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of potential steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with domestic hot water production.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing: Energy

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the total (a) energy consumption and (b) amount of greenhouse gas emitted by domestic properties for heating water in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carbon Sequestration: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department has taken to support the Teesside Carbon Capture Storage Collective since the announcement of the reduction in government funds in that sector.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Anti-corruption Innovation Hub

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans for the Anti-Corruption Innovation Hub to have any full-time staff.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government plans to launch the Anti-Corruption Innovation Hub.

Matthew Hancock: The Anti-Corruption Innovation Hub is a virtual network which brings together government, civil society, law enforcement, technologists and the private sector to share cross-sector expertise and new ideas on how to tackle corruption. The Hub will begin work shortly and the Government is committed to developing this network over the next year. There is a full time member of staff with additional support as part of joint commitment between the Government and Omidyar Network. Omidyar Network will be providing additional support for the project.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Royston Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that postal votes and ballot papers are sent only to eligible voters for the forthcoming EU referendum.

John Penrose: The referendum will be overseen by the Chief Counting Officer, chair of the independent Electoral Commission, who is responsible for making sure the referendum is held in accordance with the legislation. The Electoral Commission made a statement on "non-eligible EU citizen voters" on the 2 June 2016 which can be found at http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/.

Cabinet Office: Publications

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department and its executive agencies spent on the publications (a) Who's Who, (b) Burke's Peerage and (c) Debrett's in each year since 2010.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Prime Minister's Office spent on the publications (a) Who's Who, (b) Burke's Peerage and (c) Debrett's in each year since 2010.

Matthew Hancock: Spend on individual publications is not held centrally and is therefore only available at disproportionate cost.

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on his Department's plans to diversify the civil service.

Matthew Hancock: The Civil Service is committed to becoming representative of the modern Britain it serves and our aim is to be the most inclusive employer in the UK. This ambition is set out in our Talent Action Plan, refreshed in March 2016. This plan commits the Civil Service to actions that aim to remove barriers to success faced by underrepresented groups. All government departments are committed to the delivery of this plan. Permanent Secretaries have clear accountability for the diversity agenda and progress within their departments is measured through their personal diversity objectives. The plan is being delivered as part of the wider Civil Service Workforce Strategy.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many reported drink-related violent incidents involved the use of alcohol bottles in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Drink Related Incidents
(PDF Document, 115.16 KB)

Commission on Freedom of Information: Costs

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 9 March 2016 to Question 29669, what progress he has made on establishing the cost to the public purse of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Public Appointments: Equality

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to increase diversity in public appointments.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Taxation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings Ministers of his Department had to discuss tax evasion and avoidance between (a) 5 April 2016 and 5 May 2016 and (b) 6 May 2016 and 6 June 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU Staff: Training

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38408, what the budget of the European Fast Stream was in each year since 2010.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was spent on non-payroll staff in his Department in 2015-16.

Guto Bebb: The Wales Office spent £56,561 on non-payroll staff in 2015-16. In 2015-16, the Department used non-payroll (agency) staff to cover for staff on maternity leave and for vacant posts.

Wales Office: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of staff in his Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

Guto Bebb: The payroll information requested is shown below. Financial YearTotal Staff(a) Payroll Staff Percentage(b) Non-Payroll Staff Percentage2010/115796%4%2011/125598%2%2012/135398%2%2013/145092%8%2014/154988%12%2015/164495%5% The non-payroll staff are those contracted through an agency.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries: Quotas

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on rebalancing the UK's inland water quotas to smaller, specific locally-based fishing communities.

George Eustice: The Government regularly reviews its quota allocation policy. In recent years it has permanently realigned unused quota from Producer Organisations and allocated the first 100 tonnes, plus 10% of any remaining uplift in quota resulting from the introduction of the Landing Obligation, to the small-scale inshore fleet. These changes equate to over 1500 tonnes, or an additional £3 million worth of fish, for the small-scale fleet in 2016.

Animal Welfare: Education

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government is making on educating young children about rural affairs, animal welfare and how to care responsibly for a pet; in what ways the Government monitors that progress; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: Millions of schoolchildren across England will have the chance to plant saplings in their communities as part of a Government-backed scheme to give free trees to schools in partnership with the Woodland Trust. This will give children the chance to learn about trees and understand and connect with nature whilst making their school grounds and neighbourhoods cleaner and greener. The Government has published Codes of Practice on animal welfare and how to care responsibly for a pet, and animal welfare charities produce helpful information on this.

Nature Conservation: EU Law

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has made to the European Commission on the proposed reform of the EU Nature Directive.

Rory Stewart: Defra submitted evidence to the European Commission in April 2015 to inform their review of the EU Nature Directives. A Commission delegation then visited the UK in June 2015 to discuss the Directives in greater detail with Government officials, business group representatives and environmental non-governmental organisations. I spoke at EU Environment Council in December 2015 in support of improving how the Nature Directives are implemented and to make clear that the UK didn’t wish to see the Directives renegotiated. Defra’s written evidence and a recording of the December Council meeting are available on the European Commission website.

Beach Huts: Christchurch

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38596, on beach huts: Christchurch, how Natural England plans to ensure that the proposal does not cause further harm to the geological interest.

Rory Stewart: Natural England is working closely with Christchurch Borough Council to understand the proposal to install beach huts within the Highcliffe to Milford SSSI. It is also in discussion with local residents and geologists. The council submitted a SSSI consent application for the proposed development on 7 June. Natural England will assess the potential impacts of the proposal against the SSSI interest features and will aim to respond within 28 days.

Beach Huts: Christchurch

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38596, on beach huts: Christchurch, if she will publish a full record of the discussions between Natural England and Christchurch Borough Council.

Rory Stewart: Natural England is happy to provide the hon. Member with a record of its discussions with Christchurch Borough Council.

Beach Huts: Christchurch

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38596, on beach huts: Christchurch, and with reference to the Guardian report of 15 April 2016, entitled Dorset residents angry over TV showing beach hut competition, whether Natural England  is comfortable with the idea of the development of residential beach chalets on Highcliffe clifftop.

Rory Stewart: Natural England has not yet assessed the SSSI consent application received on 7 June. Until Natural England has done this it cannot comment further.

Cetaceans

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many whales, dolphins and other aquatic mammals have been beached on British shores in each of the last 10 years.

George Eustice: Defra, in conjunction with the Devolved Administrations of Scotland and Wales, fund the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), which investigates the causes of cetacean strandings around the UK. Between 2006 and 2014 a total of 4838 cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) were stranded around the UK (English, Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Ireland) coast. 147 of these were successfully refloated. The 2015 data has not yet been published. This will be available in due course on the CSIP website, where the annual reports for preceding years are already available. The published annual strandings data, shown below, may also be subject to change where additional strandings information is reported after publication. Although not part of its formal remit, data on stranded seals has been collected by CSIP in recent years. Since 2010 2185 dead stranded seals have been recorded. YearNo. of UK Cetacean StrandingsNo. of UK Cetacean Live StrandingsNo. of UK Cetaceans Refloated200671831920075364114200856683242009422391420102772762011600862920125627515201359538920145625527Total4838475147

Environmental Health: Noise

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers environmental health officers have to assess excessive noise from residential and commercial properties on a street level.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to enable environmental health officers to assess excessive noise in a neighbourhood on a daily basis.

Rory Stewart: Local authorities have a range of powers available to them to assess excessive noise from residential and commercial properties. These are set out in various pieces of legislation, including the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Noise Act 1996.

Environmental Health: Noise

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures are in place for environmental health officers to arrange a second observation of excessive noise in a property where a household frequently changes occupancy.

Rory Stewart: Local authorities have a range of powers available to them to assess excessive noise from residential properties through various pieces of legislation. It is for local authorities to decide how best to apply the powers available to them.

Department of Health

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency holds any clinical trial data for HPV vaccines which is not in the public domain.

George Freeman: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 07 June 2016.The correct answer should have been:

There are two three human papilloma virus vaccines licensed in the European Union: Cervarix, and Gardasil and Gardasil 9. These products are licensed centrally throughout Europe by the European Commission via the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Applicants for centrally authorised products are required to submit all relevant supporting clinical trials data, whether published or not, to the EMA directly and not to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Under current medicines legislation, the EMA database registers all EU-approved clinical trials of investigational medicinal products. Since March 2011 this information has been publicly accessible through the EU Clinical Trials Register (except adult Phase 1 trials). The EU Clinical Trials Register includes all EU-conducted trials since May 2004 when the Clinical Trials Directive was implemented and can be found here: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search Furthermore since July 2014 clinical trial sponsors have been required to provide a summary of their trial results uploaded onto the EU Clinical Trials Register within one year of their trial completing. There is a two year programme of back-loading underway to provide summaries of trial results for all trials on the Register back to when the EudraCT database was initiated in May 2004.

George Freeman: There are two three human papilloma virus vaccines licensed in the European Union: Cervarix, and Gardasil and Gardasil 9. These products are licensed centrally throughout Europe by the European Commission via the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Applicants for centrally authorised products are required to submit all relevant supporting clinical trials data, whether published or not, to the EMA directly and not to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Under current medicines legislation, the EMA database registers all EU-approved clinical trials of investigational medicinal products. Since March 2011 this information has been publicly accessible through the EU Clinical Trials Register (except adult Phase 1 trials). The EU Clinical Trials Register includes all EU-conducted trials since May 2004 when the Clinical Trials Directive was implemented and can be found here: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search Furthermore since July 2014 clinical trial sponsors have been required to provide a summary of their trial results uploaded onto the EU Clinical Trials Register within one year of their trial completing. There is a two year programme of back-loading underway to provide summaries of trial results for all trials on the Register back to when the EudraCT database was initiated in May 2004.

Fibromyalgia: Diagnosis

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve diagnosis levels for fibromyalgia; and what steps his Department is taking to  increase training for GPs on diagnosis of that condition.

Jane Ellison: Diagnosing fibromyalgia can be difficult as there is no specific diagnostic test that can be used, and the symptoms can vary from person to person. Diagnosis is usually made by taking a medical history, checking symptoms and carrying out a physical examination. Blood tests, x-rays and other scans may be used to rule out medical conditions with similar symptoms to fibromyalgia.The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum includes training in musculoskeletal conditions, and as such, general practitioner (GP) training can include fibromyalgia. A key component of a trainee GP’s final assessment, alongside the Clinical Skills Assessment and Workplace Based Assessment, is the applied knowledge test (AKT). The AKT is a summative assessment of the knowledge base that underpins independent general practice in the United Kingdom within the context of the National Health Service. The content guide for the RCGP, which serves to prepare trainees for the test, includes a specific reference to a required knowledge of fibromyalgia. The AKT content guide can be found at the following link:www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/mrcgp-exams-overview/~/media/D96EB4E0188E4355BCC9221B55859B08.ashxA range of support exists to help GPs identify the signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia in primary care. This includes the Map of Medicine, an online evidence-based guide and clinical decision support tool which has a fibromyalgia and chronic pain pathway to support diagnosis and referral, an e-learning course developed by the RCGP and Arthritis Research UK on musculoskeletal care, including fibromyalgia, and a medical guide developed by the Fibromyalgia Association UK for health professionals.

General Practitioners: Per Capita Costs

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent per head on GP services in (a) the Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group area, (b) comparator clinical commissioning groups and (c) England in each of the last three years.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the funding settlement for GPs is for (a) Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group, (b) comparator clinical commissioning groups and (c) England in 2016-17.

Alistair Burt: The allocations to the Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), comparator CCGs and England for primary medical care in 2016-17 are shown in the table below. NHS England Primary medical care allocations 2016/17CCGAllocations £000sEstimated allocation per head £sNHS Southampton CCG32,447117NHS Portsmouth CCG26,849120NHS Leeds West CCG42,907116NHS Norwich CCG30,045138NHS Bristol CCG62,585127NHS Newcastle Gateshead CCG65,882129NHS South Manchester CCG21,762126NHS Brighton & Hove CCG36,990118NHS Hull CCG40,707139NHS Nottingham City CCG45,711128NHS Canterbury and Coastal CCG26,199120NHS North Durham CCG33,765134NHS Greater Preston CCG24,783117NHS South Reading CCG18,200131NHS Coventry and Rugby CCG59,010120NHS Salford CCG35,143134NHS Sheffield CCG74,747127NHS Liverpool CCG66,357131NHS Lancashire North CCG19,949126NHS Sunderland CCG39,512139NHS Stoke on Trent CCG37,607132England7,344,230127 Source: “NHS England Allocations Primary care (medical)”, February 2016. The 20 most comparable CCGs to Southampton are based on modelling using the Index of Multiple Deprivation, population registered with practices, age of population, population density, ethnicity and ratio of registered to resident population. Although the 20 CCGs are the most comparable, they do not have exactly the same characteristics and therefore allocations. The average payment per general practice (GP) registered patient figure for the Southampton CCG area, comparator CCGs and England for the years 2013/14 and 2014/15 is set out in the following table. The 2015/16 figures are not yet available and will be published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) in September. The figures in the table include all payments made to practices, including those which CCGs made which were funded from wider non-primary care allocations. NHS Newcastle Gateshead CCG appears in the forward looking table above, but not the backward looking table below, as it was only established on 1 April 2015 following the merger of three predecessor CCGs in that area. Average payment per GP registered patient (£)CCG2013/142014/15NHS Southampton CCG119.58124.73NHS Portsmouth CCG116.50129.04NHS Leeds West CCG125.17150.70NHS Norwich CCG139.31142.02NHS Bristol CCG127.19130.89NHS South Manchester CCG110.24118.41NHS Brighton & Hove CCG105.44112.96NHS Hull CCG110.75131.26NHS Nottingham City CCG119.62119.63NHS Canterbury and Coastal CCG122.12126.13NHS North Durham CCG137.12145.33NHS Greater Preston CCG115.52123.25NHS South Reading CCG120.24128.51NHS Coventry and Rugby CCG125.28140.79NHS Salford CCG117.28125.63NHS Sheffield CCG128.36135.93NHS Liverpool CCG154.19157.49NHS Lancashire North CCG133.27139.02NHS Sunderland CCG130.05140.50NHS Stoke on Trent CCG149.56151.81England136.00141.09 Source: HSCIC publications: “NHS Payments to General Practice, England”, 2013/14 and 2014/15

Mobile Phones: Children

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the advice on mobile telephone safety on the NHS Choices webpages, what the evidence base is for the recommendation that children should only use mobile telephones for essential purposes and keep all calls short.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) keeps the scientific evidence regarding the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones on public health under review, and advises on the measures that should be taken to protect the public. Precautionary advice to discourage the non-essential use of mobile phones by children dates from the year 2000 and was motivated by concerns that, if there are unrecognised adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones, children may be more vulnerable. The advice was accepted by government and has been continued by Public Health England, including after its 2012 comprehensive review of research evidence, which found no convincing evidence that exposures to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below the international guideline levels cause health effects in either adults or children. The precautionary advice is based on the potential for health effects, rather than proven identifiable evidence of harm.

Cancer: Mobile Phones

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with his US counterpart the potential implications for his policies of work undertaken by the US National Toxicology Program on links between mobile telephone use and levels of cancer risk; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Government looks to Public Health England (PHE) to review the scientific evidence regarding the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones on public health, and to advise on the measures that should be taken to protect the public. Among the available evidence are the recently-released partial findings from a study carried out by the United States National Toxicology Programme, which involved rats exposed at levels substantially above those to which the public are exposed when using mobile phones. PHE has welcomed the first results of the study but consider the findings far from definitive with regard to any relationship between the use of mobile phones and cancer in humans.

Smoking: Health Services

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department spent on campaigns to promote the cessation of  smoking in 2015-16; what estimate he has made of planned expenditure by his Department on smoking cessation campaigns in 2016-17; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England took over all the public health campaigns formerly run by the Department on 1 April 2013.

Pharmacy: West Yorkshire

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to funding for pharmacies on patient demand for (a) GPs and (b) hospitals in West Yorkshire.

Alistair Burt: Such an assessment is underway. A final impact assessment, informed by consultation responses, will influence final decisions and be published in due course.

Ambulance Services: Performance Standards

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who travelled for 30 minutes or more in an ambulance to access an accident and emergency department in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Gummer: No such estimate has been made. This information is not collected centrally.Clinical consensus is that for patient outcomes and mortality what matters is the time from becoming ill to receiving specialist, life-saving care. That is why we are developing ambulance services that act as mobile assessment and treatment services, and networked urgent and emergency care services, to ensure patients are treated in the facility best equipped to provide whatever care is needed. For some patients requiring specialist care this may be in a hospital that is further away.

Health Professions

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is for applicants to the National Performers List.

Ben Gummer: NHS England, which is responsible for the operation of the National Performers List, does not collect or publish figures on average waiting times for admission to the lists. FHS Service (Capita), which operates the system on behalf of NHS England, has a Key Performance Indicator of passing requests on to NHS England within six weeks of receipt.

Blood: Cancer

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of treatment and support provision available through the NHS for patients of myelodysplastic syndromes blood cancers.

Jane Ellison: The Department has made no such assessment. The responsibility for commissioning services for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes blood cancers is split across NHS England and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). NHS England is responsible for commissioning the specialised aspects of the pathway, such as blood and bone marrow transplants. CCGs are responsible for commissioning more local services, such as blood transfusions and support services.

Alcoholic Drinks: Consumption

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the UK Chief Medical Officer's revised alcohol guidelines, published in January 2016.

Jane Ellison: The UK Chief Medical Officers’ (CMOs) alcohol guidelines give the public the latest and most up to date scientific information so that they can make informed decisions about their own drinking. Government has a responsibility to ensure this information is provided for citizens in an open way. The Government launched a public consultation seeking views on the advice from the UK CMOs. The final guidelines and the Government response to the consultation will be published shortly.

Travellers: Health

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department took specialist health research into account when undertaking its equality impact assessment on the draft guidance to local housing authorities on the periodical review of housing needs: caravans and houseboats; and what steps his Department is taking to fulfil the UK's international obligations under the National Roma Integration Strategy on addressing the effect of accommodation insecurity on the health of Gypsies and Travellers in Britain.

Jane Ellison: The Department for Communities and Local Government published the draft guidance to local housing authorities on the periodical review of housing needs: caravans and houseboats. We understand from officials in that department its Ministers had due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty as set out by the Equality Act 2010. Accordingly, the Department of Health did not advise on this guidance. We published earlier this year an independent report as part of this wider approach and as part of inclusion health, which seeks to address the health needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. A copy of the report is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gypsy-and-traveller-health-accommodation-and-living-environment

Exercise and Sports

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of the work of the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine to the use of sport and exercise medicine in (a) the NHS and (b) public health practice.

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution to increasing activity levels and tackling long-term health conditions of the work of the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield.

Jane Ellison: Insufficient physical activity is one of the top 10 causes of ill health in England. The work of the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine in Sheffield and wider work in Sheffield can contribute action on this issue both locally and nationally. This potential underpins the rationale for investment in the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine (in Sheffield and the London and East Midlands hubs) and the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre on the Park. The Sport Strategy published in December also underlined a commitment to work with the National Centre for Sports and Exercised Medicine and other key stakeholders to support the growth of sport and exercise medicine and its use within the National Health Service and wider public health practice. The Department and Public Health England are working with and supporting these developments to harness their potential for local and national action to increase physical activity.

Incontinence: Children and Young People

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of emergency admissions for bladder and bowel problems amongst children and young people aged 19 and under in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Health is a devolved matter in Scotland, and the information is not available in the format requested for England. Such information as is available is from reference costs, which are the average unit cost to National Health Service hospital trusts in England of providing defined services to patients in a given financial year. Reference costs for acute care are collected by healthcare resource group (HRG), a secondary classification system which groups similar treatments that use similar resources and which is organised into chapters and sub-chapters that cover different body areas or systems. Chapter FZ covers the digestive system and includes, but is not limited to, HRGs for bowel problems. Sub-chapter LB covers the urinary tract and male reproductive system and includes, but is not limited to, bladder disorders. Many, but not all, HRGs make use of patient age to differentiate between children and adults. In addition to being collected by HRG, reference costs for acute care are also collected by admission method, including non-elective admissions. Non-elective admissions predominantly comprise of emergency admissions but also other admission methods as defined by the NHS data dictionary at: http://www.datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/attributes/a/add/admission_method_de.asp?shownav=1 Reference costs are published annually, most recently for 2014-15. The national reference cost schedule summarises all the costs submitted by NHS hospital trusts as national average unit costs. The following links are to each schedule for the last five years: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/480791/2014-15_National_Schedules.xlsx https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/397469/03a_2013-14_National_Schedule_-_CF-NET_updated.xlshttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260405/2012-13_national_schedule_of_reference_costs.xlsNHS reference costs: financial year 2011 to 2012 - Publications - GOV.UKhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/215298/dh_131145.xls

Asthma: Medical Treatments

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that patients with asthma are referred for specialist treatment after two courses of oral corticosteroids or 12 courses of short-acting beta-agonists.

Jane Ellison: Software used in general practice will help identify those patients who might benefit from referral to a specialist service. However, it is for clinicians, using their clinical judgement, to decide when it is appropriate to refer individual patients for specialist treatment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing a new guideline on asthma management which is expected to be published in June 2017.

Incontinence: Children and Young People

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of inappropriate referrals to hospital settings for bladder and bowel problems in children and young people aged 19 and under.

Jane Ellison: Whenever possible, children and young people with bladder and bowel problems should be able to access community based assessment and treatment services. In November 2015, NHS England published the Commissioning Framework for Continence Services Excellence in Continence Care which covers children and adults and outlines a pathway including assessment, diagnosis and treatment to recovery where possible. The framework sets out a number of principles for a good design of service including integration across primary, secondary and tertiary services, health, education and social care. The framework references the Paediatric Continence Commissioning Guide (Paediatric Continence Forum, September 2014) which provides a specification for paediatric continence services and in particular community based services.

Diabetes

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how guidance on finding pathways of continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes is communicated to clinical commissioning groups and people applying for such funding.

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance has been issued for the funding pathways of continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes.

Jane Ellison: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are primarily responsible for commissioning diabetes services to meet the requirements of their population. In doing so, CCGs need to ensure that the services they provide are fit for purpose, reflect the needs of the local population and are based on the available evidence and take into account national guidelines. This should include consideration of access to continuous glucose monitoring for people with Type 1 diabetes who might benefit from it.

Muscular Dystrophy: Drugs

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with NHS England about making Translarna available for use in England.

George Freeman: National Health Service funding decisions for treatments for rare and ultra-rare conditions, such as Translarna (ataluren) for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), are made by NHS England, as the responsible commissioner for specialised services. I have been working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England to understand and expedite what can be done to help people access Translarna and have met with MPs, patient groups, drug companies, and parents of children with rare diseases, including DMD, to discuss their concerns about this specific issue. Following stakeholders’ concerns regarding NHS England’s evaluation processes of treatments for rare conditions, NHS England decided in December 2014 to hold a 90-day consultation on prioritisation for specialised services (held from 27 January to 27 April 2015). This was to ensure that the principles and process for making such decisions were well informed, evidence-led and in line with the expectations of patients and the public. The Department and the NICE took steps to ensure that Translarna was referred to the NICE as quickly as possible (March 2015) so that final guidance would be available without undue delay. NHS England announced in July that it would wait until the NICE’s guidance was available before developing a funding policy on Translarna. On 15 April 2016, the NICE announced in its final draft guidance that it was recommending Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of children aged five and over with DMD caused by a nonsense mutation. Translarna was recommended only when a) the company provides it at a discounted price to the NHS under the patient access scheme agreed with the Department and b) NHS England and the manufacturer, PTC Therapeutics, in conjunction with patient representatives, agree a managed access agreement setting out (i) the criteria for starting and stopping treatment, which individual patients would be required to agree, (ii) data collection to address considerable uncertainty in the evidence base and (iii) additional confidential financial controls between the company and NHS England. On 4 May 2016, the NICE announced that it was allowing extra time for further discussions on access arrangements for Translarna to take place before its final guidance is published. NHS England and PTC Therapeutics have been asked to reach agreement on the cost of the drug to the NHS by 7 July 2016. If the NICE’s final guidance recommends Translarna, NHS England will be legally required to fund it.

Prisoners: Dementia

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many current prison inmates have been diagnosed with dementia.

Ben Gummer: This information is not collected centrally by the Department or NHS England.

Heart Diseases: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for Government policies of medical and scientific evidence on the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Jane Ellison: The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers have made an assessment of the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease, as well as other conditions such as cancer, as part of their review of the alcohol guidelines. The alcohol guidelines give the public the latest and most up to date scientific information so they can make informed decisions about their own drinking. The advice can be read here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/health-risks-from-alcohol-new-guidelines

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2016 to Question 37472, on fertility: medical treatments, whether he plans to review clinical commissioning groups' levels of compliance with NICE guidelines.

Jane Ellison: The Department has no plans to review clinical commissioning groups’ (CCGs) compliance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. However, CCGs have to make prioritisation decisions on what they commission based on their local population need and having regard to national clinical guidance, including that produced by NICE.

Health Professions

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department is taking steps to set a national standard for a maximum number of patients that GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals can reasonably deal with during any working day.

Alistair Burt: It is important that practices are free to meet the needs of individual patients according to clinical need. Therefore there is no requirement for general practitioner practices to offer appointments of a specific length or a specific mix of workforce to meet population need.However, in recognition of the increased demands being placed on general practice, NHS England has:1. Placed a requirement on clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in the NHS Planning Guidance for 2016/17 to develop and implement a local plan to address the sustainability and quality of general practice, including workforce and workload issues. This is the first time specific requirements have been placed on local commissioners to support and develop general practice.2. Provided advice about specific ways to invest in general practice for National Health Service leaders as they prepare Sustainability and Transformation Plans for the future. In both of these, there is a dual focus on maintaining quality and access to care in existing services, while also supporting the introduction of new ways of working. Areas where support is required include increased funding, growth and diversification in the workforce, development of premises and information technology, and specific help to develop networks and federations with patient benefit at their heart.The ‘General Practice Forward View’ released in April 2016, announced a major new programme of development and improvement support for practices over the next three years. This will help groups of practices to redesign care in order to simultaneously release staff time and improve care for patients. As part of the development programme, support and advice will be provided to federations and CCGs on ways to engage patients and voluntary and community sector groups as partners. This will help local people shape priorities, contribute to the co-design of improved services and build assets in the community.

Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward proposals to change surrogacy law to give single parents with children born through surrogacy the same rights as couples.

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the declaration by Sir James Munby in the matter of Z (A Child) (No. 2), on 20 May 2016, that sections 54(1) and (2) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 are incompatible with rights under Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights taken in conjunction with Article 8.

Jane Ellison: The Government has accepted the judgment by Sir James Munby from the High Court. We will be looking to update the legislation on Parental Orders, and are now considering how best to do this.

Diabetes: Research

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much Government funding has been allocated to the research of Type 1 Diabetes in each of the last 10 years.

George Freeman: The information requested is not available. The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established in 2006 to increase the volume of applied health research for the benefit of patients and the public, drive faster translation of basic science discoveries into tangible benefits for patients and the economy, and develop and support the people who conduct and contribute to applied health research. The NIHR spent £30.8 million on research relating to metabolic and endocrine disease in 2014/15 (the latest available figure). Most of this investment (£24.4 million in 2014/15) is in infrastructure for research in metabolic and endocrine disease where spend on specific disease areas such as type 1 diabetes cannot be separated from total infrastructure expenditure. This infrastructure including NIHR biomedical research centres and the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The NIHR funds a wide range of research relating to type 1 diabetes and in 2014/15 the NIHR CRN supported 49 studies in this disease area. The NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme is currently seeking to commission research on immunotherapy for type 1 diabetes.

General Practitioners: Finance

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what decisions his Department has made on the distribution of funding to relieve the immediate pressures in general practice, set out in NHS England's General Practice Forward View, published in April 2016.

Alistair Burt: The General Practice Forward View, published by NHS England on 21 April 2016, sets out that an extra £2.4 billion a year will be invested in general practice services by 2020/21, representing a 14% increase in real terms. This means that investment will rise from £9.6 billion a year in 2015/16 to over £12 billion a year by 2020/21. There will be a national £508 million five year Sustainability and Transformation package for general practice to help support struggling practices, develop the workforce, stimulate care redesign and tackle workload. This package will include:― £56 million, to include a new practice resilience programme starting in 2016/17, and the offer of specialist services to general practitioners suffering from burn out and stress;― £206 million for workforce measures to grow the medical and non-medical workforce; and― £246 million to support practices in redesigning services, including a requirement on clinical commissioning groups to provide around £171 million of practice transformational support and a new national £30 million development programme for general practice.

Hospitals: Discharges

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission research into the costs to the NHS of delayed discharges.

Alistair Burt: The Department and NHS Improvement are working together to implement Lord Carter’s recommendations on hospital productivity. As part of this the two organisations are working with providers to develop a richer dataset around all aspects of the patient pathway, including discharge. At the same time, the Department continues to work closely with the National Health Service and local government to help local areas improve transfers out of hospital, share best practice, and reduce unnecessary delays.

Warrington Hospital

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with whom on future provision of services at Warrington Hospital; and when the decision on future provisions of services at that hospital will be announced.

Ben Gummer: No such discussions have taken place.The provision of front line health services is a matter for the National Health Service locally.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who the senior leaders and board members are of the 44 Sustainability and Transformation Plan footprints.

George Freeman: The Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) leads for the footprints are as provided below. The names of other members of the footprints are held locally. FootprintSTP footprint leadNorthumberland, Tyne and WearMark Adams (Chief Officer, Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG))West, North and East CumbriaStephen Eames (Chief Executive, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust)Durham, Darlington and Tees, Hambleton, Richmondshire and WhitbyAlan Foster (Chief Executive, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust)Lancashire and South CumbriaDr Amanda Doyle OBE (Chief Clinical Officer, Blackpool CCG)West YorkshireRob Webster (Chief Executive designate, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust)Coast, Humber and ValeTBCGreater ManchesterSir Howard Bernstein (Chief Executive, Manchester City Council)Cheshire and MerseysideLouise Shepherd (Chief Executive, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust)South Yorkshire and BassetlawSir Andrew Cash OBE (Chief Executive, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)Kent & MedwayGlenn Douglas (Chief Executive, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust)Sussex and East SurreyMichael Wilson (Chief Executive, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust)Frimley HealthSir Andrew Morris (Chief Executive, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust)Surrey HeartlandsJulia Ross (Chief Executive, North West Surrey CCG)Cornwall and the Isles of ScillyTBCDevonAngela Pedder OBE (Chief Executive, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust)SomersetDr Matthew Dolman (Chair, Somerset CCG)Bristol, North Somerset, South GloucestershireRobert Woolley (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust)Bath, Swindon and WiltshireJames Scott (Chief Executive, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust)DorsetTim Goodson (Chief Officer, Dorset CCG)Hampshire and the Isle of WightRichard Samuel (Chief Officer, Fareham and Gosport CCG, South Eastern Hampshire CCG)GloucestershireMary Hutton (Accountable Officer, Gloucestershire CCG)Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire WestDavid Smith (Chief Executive, Oxfordshire CCG)StaffordshireJohn MacDonald (Chair, University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust)Shropshire and Telford and WrekinSimon Wright (Chief Executive, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust)DerbyshireGary Thompson (Chief Officer, Southern Derbyshire CCG)LincolnshireAllan Kitt (Chief Officer, South West Lincolnshire CCG)NottinghamshireDavid Pearson (Director, Adult Social Care, Nottinghamshire County Council)Leicester, Leicestershire and RutlandToby Sanders (Accountable Officer, West Leicestershire CCG)The Black CountryAndy Williams (Accountable Officer, Sandwell West Birmingham CCG)Birmingham and SolihullMark Rogers (Chief Executive, Birmingham City Council)Coventry and WarwickshireAndy Hardy (Chief Executive, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust)Herefordshire and WorcestershireSarah Dugan (Chief Executive, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust)NorthamptonshireJohn Wardell (Accountable Officer, Nene CCG)Cambridgeshire and PeterboroughDr Neil Modha (Chief Clinical Officer, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG)Norfolk and WaveneyTBCSuffolk and North East EssexNick Hulme (Chief Executive, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust)Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and LutonPauline Philip (Chief Executive, Luton & Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)Hertfordshire and West EssexBeverley Flowers (Accountable Officer, East and North Hertfordshire CCG)Mid and South EssexDr Anita Donley (Independent Chair for Mid and South Essex Success Regime from 1st April)North West LondonDr Mohini Parmar (Chair, Ealing CCG)North Central LondonDavid Sloman (Chief Executive, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust)North East LondonJane Milligan (Chief Officer, Tower Hamlets CCG)South East LondonAmanda Pritchard (Chief Executive, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust)South West LondonKathryn Magson (Chief Officer, Richmond CCG)  Note: Entries that are TBC mean that no one is as of yet confirmed in position.

HIV Infection: Drugs

William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has made an assessment of the cost effectiveness of HIV PeEP if only given to a very small group of high-risk individuals.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is developing an evidence summary on the use of Truvada for Pre-exposure prophylaxis that is expected to be published in the autumn. The evidence summary will consider the evidence for effectiveness, safety, patient factors and resource implications including cost.

Health Services

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the NHS England Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group plans to make an announcement on the recommendations of the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group.

George Freeman: The Specialised Services Commissioning Committee is due to meet at the end of June 2016. The recommendations of the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group will be announced after that meeting.

HIV Infection: Drugs

William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will give NHS England the power to commission HIV PeEP through the NHS public health functions agreement known as Section 7a; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Work on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is on-going and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked to conduct an evidence review of Truvada for PrEP in groups at high risk of HIV. The NICE evidence summary will run alongside a pilot programme that will see £2 million invested over the next two years to target those at highest risk of HIV. This evidence review and pilot programme signifies the next steps forward and will inform any subsequent decisions about commissioning.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether members of the public will have a right to attend Sustainability and Transformation Plan board meetings.

George Freeman: We have made clear that the on-going engagement of patients and the public is part of good planning. However the Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are not statutory boards. Rather they are meetings attended by representatives of the wider health system, and are not required to meet in public as are formal boards. The local, statutory architecture for health and care remains. As such, the local governance for STPs will ultimately be through individual organisations. Public access to Board meetings of their local organisations will be unchanged.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the legal status of a Sustainability and Transformation Plan will be.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the legal status is of the changes to health and social care proposed in Sustainability and Transformation Plans.

George Freeman: The Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) has no legal basis. Any plans submitted will be proposals that will form the basis for discussion. Depending on the level of local and national agreement, they may form the basis for further plans and actions that will be subject to the same legal and best practice requirements that govern the National Health Service. The local, statutory architecture for health and care remains, as do the existing accountabilities for Chief Executives of provider organisations and Accountable Officers of clinical commissioning groups. Organisations are still accountable for their individual organisational plans, which should form part of the first year of their footprint’s STP. The June STP submissions will be work-in-progress, and as such we do not anticipate the requirement for formal approval from boards and/or consultation at this early stage. Plans have no status until they are agreed. When plans are ready, normal rules around engagement and public consultation will apply.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of Sustainability and Transformation Plans have been submitted to his Department; and what the deadline is for such plans to be submitted.

George Freeman: No Sustainability and Transformation Plans have been submitted yet. Draft submissions will be made to the national arm’s length bodies and are due on 30 June 2016. These documents will be discussed with footprints in July 2016. Plans will have no status until they are agreed. Footprints are at different starting points, and so the degree of detail that will be provided by 30 June 2016 will vary. Therefore, rather than expecting to have one ‘sign-off’ moment for all 44 plans, it is anticipated that this will occur in a series of waves over the coming weeks and months, with those areas who are more advanced achieving earlier sign off than those who will require more work.

Visual Impairment

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether the Government is on target to eliminate avoidable blindness by 2020.

Alistair Burt: The indicator within the Public Health Outcomes Framework brings together the range of information on levels of preventable sight loss in a single place.The indicator is made up of four sub-indicators which are measuring the crude rates of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, and of the rate of sight loss certifications per 100,000 population.The latest data published by the Public Health Outcomes framework show that there were the following new certifications of visual impairment in 2013/14: - 11,055 for age related macular degeneration, a decrease of 90 from 2012/13;- 3,432 for glaucoma, an increase of 141 from 2012/13;- 1,563 for diabetic eye disease, a decrease of 29 from 2012/13; and- 22,911 overall new certifications (all causes), an increase of 264 from 2012/13. Early detection is essential to tackling preventable sight loss. A range of treatment and services are in place in the National Health Service to deal with the key causes of preventable sight loss.

NHS: Training

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that NHS staff receive religious literacy training.

Ben Gummer: Religion or belief (or lack thereof) is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Public authorities, including all National Health Service organisations, must have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and other conduct prohibited under that Act towards people sharing that protected characteristic in discharging their public functions. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees do not behave unlawfully and should take all reasonable steps to prevent unlawful acts from happening. Employees can also be personally liable for any unlawful conduct.NHS organisations are subject to duties under the Equality Act in their own right. They are also directly subject to regulation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. To help them meet their statutory equality duties, NHS England published an Equality Delivery System for the NHS (https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/gov/equality-hub/eds/) which became part of the NHS Standard Contract from 2015.

Brain: Research

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the importance of the Corsellis Brain Collection for promoting research into brain diseases for the treatment of patients in the NHS.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has had discussions with the West London Mental Health Trust on future funding of the Corsellis Brain Collection.

George Freeman: The Department has not made any specific assessment of the importance of the collection for promoting research into brain diseases. The excess costs of maintaining the collection compared with the income from specimen preparation over a number of years have rendered the collection unsustainable as a research resource. Every effort is being made to ensure as much of the collection as possible is available to researchers and the West London Mental Health Trust has been working with BRAIN UK (an initiative funded by the Medical Research Council which co-ordinates the distribution of tissue across the country) to support this. As part of this strategy the Trust has therefore decided to publicise the decision to close the collection and invite requests from appropriate academic departments for tissue relevant to their research and teaching programmes, and to respectfully dispose of those tissue samples for which no scientific purpose can be envisaged. Some 7,500 out of 8,500 specimens have identified destinations as a result of this process, to departments across the United K and in the Netherlands, in Canada and in Hong Kong. The Trust has obtained the appropriate Human Tissue Authority licenses for this work. We understand that the collection will close by the end of June 2016. The UK Brain Bank Network, which is funded by Government through the Medical Research Council, has established a national network of UK brain tissue resources (banks) for researchers to access. The Network currently involves 10 brain banks across the UK which now hold over 14,000 well characterised brains.

NHS Property Services: Fees and Charges

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he has issued to NHS Property Services on charging clinical commissioning groups for void space in any NHS Property Services' properties.

George Freeman: Since NHS Property Services (NHS PS) was set up in April 2013, the full cost of running the Company’s properties and the services it provides has been recovered from the tenants, or in the case of any space that is unoccupied, the relevant commissioner for the property, either the local clinical commissioning group (CCG ) or NHS England.Alongside the introduction of more rational charging arrangements in April 2016, NHS PS are implementing a new approach to charges levied for vacant space, moving the risk of vacant space from sitting solely with commissioners to being shared between commissioners and NHS PS. This is to align the incentives for resolving issues of vacant space with those best able to take action.Under this policy, agreed with the Department and NHS England, charges to commissioners for “realisable” vacant space will come in the form of a fixed “vacating” fee, and will be paid when the tenant leaves. Following the payment of the vacating charge, all costs will revert to NHS PS. This will incentivise the Company to dispose of the property or sublet a lease as quickly as possible in order to minimise any costs not covered by the fixed fee.To facilitate this policy it is essential that CCGs have a clear, shared understanding of vacant and realisable space between themselves and local NHS PS representatives.

NHS Property Services

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had on (a) complete and (b) partial privatisation of the National Health Service's Property Services.

George Freeman: The Department is always looking at ways to realise efficiencies and value for money from the use of its assets and investments, and this includes its investments in companies like NHS Property Services.

NHS: Staff

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NHS England Five Year Forward View on Mental Health, published in February 2016, what progress has been made on Recommendation 35 on staff awareness and confidence in dealing with mental health.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NHS England Five Year Forward View on Mental Health, published in February 2016, what progress has been made on Recommendation 33 on health and wellbeing support to NHS organisations.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NHS England Five Year Forward View on Mental Health, published in February 2016, what progress has been made on Recommendation 32 on a multi-disciplinary workforce strategy.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NHS England Five Year Forward View on Mental Health, published in February 2016, what progress has been made on Recommendation 34 on incentive payments.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NHS England Five Year Forward View on Mental Health, published in February 2016, what progress has been made on Recommendation 28 on digital infrastructure.

Alistair Burt: The Government is working with delivery partners to carefully consider the independent Mental Health Taskforce’s recommendations and aims to publish a strategic implementation plan in the autumn that will set out how Government and partners will deliver the recommendations.

Botulinum Toxin

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how  much the NHS spent on treating people with medical conditions caused by botox injections in the last five years.

Ben Gummer: Information is not held on National Health Service spending on treating people with medical conditions caused by botox injections.

NHS: Drugs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the most expensive drugs bought from pharmaceutical companies by the NHS were in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Based on National Health Service list prices at launch notified to the Department between 2009 and 2015 under the rules of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme and statutory regulations, the 10 most expensive medicines in terms of list price per pack are shown in the table.In considering the impact of a medicine, it is important to take into account both the product’s total net costs and the net health benefits it generates.ProductManufacturerStrensiq (asfotase alfa) 80mg injectionAlexionTranslarna (ataluren) granules for oral suspensionPTC Therapeutics LtdSirturo (bedaquiline fumarate) tabletsJanssen-Cilag LtdLojuxta (lomitapide) capsulesAegerion PharmaceuticalsProvenge (sipuleucel-T) dispersion for infusionDendreon CoporationChondroCelect (characterised viable autologous cartilage cells expanded exvivo) implantation suspensionSwedish Orphan Biovitrum (SOBI)Yervoy (ipilimumab) vialsBristol-Myers Squibb UKRevestive (teduglutide) injectionNPS Pharma InternationalKalydeco (ivacaftor) tabletsVertex PharmaceuticalsKalydeco (ivacaftor) oral granulesVertex PharmaceuticalsSource: Department of Health

NHS: Prescription Drugs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the average price paid by the NHS for prescription drugs in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The average net ingredient cost of prescription items dispensed in the community in England is in the table: Information for medicines supplied in secondary care is not available. YearAverage net ingredient cost per prescription item (£)200511.02200610.90200710.5120089.8820099.6420109.5320119.1620128.5220138.3720148.3220158.55 Source: Prescription Cost Analysis data provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

NHS: Prescription Drugs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the amount paid by the NHS to pharmaceutical companies for prescription drugs in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The information requested is in the table. YearPrimary care drugs spend (1)Secondary care drugs spendTotal drugs spend Outturn (£ m)Outturn (£ m)Outturn (£ m)2004/057,3762,5959,9712005/067,2352,7649,9992006/077,5932,96910,5622007/087,6633,27410,9372008/097,7493,64711,3972009/107,9463,97411,9202010/118,2804,25712,5372011/128,2434,48212,7252012/13(2)7,8875,05512,9412013/14(3)8,0155,32413,3392014/158,2065,89714,103Sources:Primary care figures to 2012-13 are from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) audited summarisation schedules. Figures from 2013-14 are from the Department’s annual report and accounts.Secondary care figures are from National Health Service trusts, PCT finance returns and foundation trust year-end accounts. Finance returns were not collected after 2011/12; figures for NHS trusts in 2012/13 are estimates.Secondary care figures from 2013-14 are from Monitor and NHS Trust Development Authority.

Respite Care

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to increase the provision of respite and replacement care for carers in England.

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to develop a cross-departmental strategy to provide more support to carers in England.

Alistair Burt: The Government recognises the invaluable contribution made by unpaid carers and the importance of supporting them in their carer roles. This includes provision of and access to respite and replacement care. The Department has provided £400 million to the National Health Service over four years from 2011 for carers to have breaks from their caring responsibilities. The carers breaks funding of £130 million is now included in the Better Care Fund in 2016/17. The Department has also provided £186.6 million of funding in 2016/17 to local authorities for improved carers’ rights, as established in the Care Act 2014. The Care Act 2014 duty for local authorities to undertake carers’ assessments also provides an opportunity for the local authority and the carer to look at the support they need and the outcomes that they wish to achieve, including providing them with a break or taking up work, educational and leisure opportunities if they wish. The Department is committed to continuing to improve support for carers and is currently leading the development of a new cross-Government national carers’ strategy, due to be published by the end of 2016. We are currently consulting widely with a range of stakeholders and carers themselves to inform the development of the strategy.

NHS: Drugs

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the largest financial contracts between the NHS and pharmaceutical  companies were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Details of the largest1 financial contracts between the National Health Service and pharmaceutical companies in each of the last five calendar years are given in the table: YearSupplier NameDepartment of Health Tender ReferenceFramework Agreement Title2011Gilead Sciences LtdCM/PHR/08/5000Pharmaceuticals Antiretroviral pan-London April 20102012Gilead Sciences LtdCM/PHR/10/5203Pan London Antiretroviral2013Gilead Sciences LtdCM/PHR/10/5203Pan London Antiretroviral2014Gilead Sciences LtdCM/PHR/10/5203Pan London Antiretroviral2015Pfizer LimitedCM/PHR/13/5415Branded Pharmaceutical Products - National (05-2014)Source: Department of Health Commercial Medicines Unit1 Based on pre-agreement estimated values for framework agreements for the use of hospitals in England.

NHS Protect: Finance

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the budget for NHS Protect was in each of the last eight years.

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff have been employed by NHS Protect in each of the last eight years; and how many such people were employed as investigators.

George Freeman: The information requested is in the following table:YearNHS Protect Budget (£ million)NHS Protect staffNHS Protect investigators2008-0913.379218832009-1013.439204712010-1112.121217682011-1211.381190332012-1311.381173322013-1411.381178322014-1511.154186342015-1610.47317433

Sleeping Rough

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost of rough sleeping to the NHS.

Jane Ellison: According to the last Departmental estimate, homeless people – primarily rough sleepers and those living in hostels - cost National Health Service hospitals at least £85 million a year, based on around 40,500 people living in hostels (Healthcare for Single Homeless People (2010). Homeless people consume around four times more acute hospital services than the general population. These extra costs arise from the severity of their health conditions and because they are more likely to be admitted as emergency admissions. We have made £40 million available through the Homelessness Change/Platform for Life programme to provide tailored hostel accommodation to improve the physical and mental health outcomes of rough sleepers and provide stable, transitional, shared accommodation for young people who are homeless or in insecure housing. We have also encouraged local areas to develop and improve hospital discharge arrangements for people who are homeless through the £10 million Homeless Hospital Discharge Fund, including by more effective multi-agency working.

General Practitioners: Insurance

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on GP services of increasing medical indemnity costs for GPs.

Alistair Burt: The Department and NHS England committed in the recently published General Practice Forward View to review the current arrangements for indemnity cover for general practitioners. To take this review forward, a General Practice Indemnity Steering Group has been established by the Department with NHS England to look at the rising cost of indemnity, and to bring forward proposals for discussion by the end of July 2016.

Testicular Cancer

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the divergence between the below-average incidence of testicular cancer amongst men living in the most deprived areas and the above-average number of deaths amongst that cohort when diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve early diagnosis and treatment of testicular cancer amongst men living in the most deprived areas.

Jane Ellison: According to the Office for National Statistics, for men diagnosed with testicular cancer between 2009 and 2013 the one year survival estimate was 98.3% and the five year survival estimate was 97.0%, the highest survival rates for any type of cancer.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the organisation of healthcare for people with a urological cancer, including testicular cancer - Improving outcomes in urological cancers (NICE guidelines CSG2, September 2002). The guidance recommends which healthcare professionals should be involved in treatment and care, and the types of hospital or cancer centre that are best suited to provide that healthcare. The guidance can be found at this link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/csg2Improving the early diagnosis of cancer is a priority for this Government, and was highlighted as a strategic priority in the report Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes published in July 2015 by the independent Cancer Taskforce. In order to continue to support general practitioners (GPs) to identify patients whose symptoms may indicate cancer and urgently refer them as appropriate, NICE published an updated suspected cancer referral guideline in June 2015, which encourages GPs to think of cancer sooner and lowers the threshold for referral. The guideline can be found at this link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12The health website NHS Choices includes information about the symptoms of testicular cancer and encourages men to be aware of what feels normal for them and to seek help from their GP if they notice any changes. This information can be found at this link:www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-testicle/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Nurses: Training

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of first year students enrolled onto undergraduate-level nursing degrees in England are studying part-time.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not collect data on the proportion of first year students studying part-time undergraduate-level nursing degrees.Health Education England (HEE) for this academic year so far has recorded the figures for part-time first year nursing students in training. As at the end of 31 March 2016, 19,451 students are currently enrolled as first year nursing students and 177 of those are part time. This does not include midwifery and HEE has no data prior to this academic year.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many recommendations of the report of the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust have not been implemented.

Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department last reported on what progress has been made implementing the recommendations of the report of the public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Ben Gummer: In 2010, Sir Robert Francis began his inquiry into failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, the report of which was published in 2013. “Patients First and Foremost”, the Government’s initial response, was published shortly afterwards; followed later in the year with a more detailed response “Hard Truths: The Journey to Putting Patients First”. These are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-the-mid-staffordshire-nhs-foundation-trust-public-inquiry https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/170701/Patients_First_and_Foremost.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270368/34658_Cm_8777_Vol_1_accessible.pdf https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270103/35810_Cm_8777_Vol_2_accessible_v0.2.pdf In February 2015, the Government published “Culture Change in the NHS” (link), a consolidated account of the progress to date in implementing the recommendations committed to. These actions fell into a few broad categories – for example, improving professional regulation and oversight; introducing a professional duty of candour; developing a more integrated and collaborative approach to quality regulation; increasing co-operation with regulators across and outside the health and care sector; and addressing the urgent need for a different culture in the National Health Service, one with a greater emphasis on putting the patient at the heart of services, where professionals focus on learning from experience, and where accountability and transparency are valued and become an integral part of clinical practice. In July 2015, the Government also published “Learning not Blaming” (link), our response to Sir Robert Francis QC’s “Freedom to Speak up” report (link), the report of Dr Bill Kirkup into events at Morecambe Bay (link), and the Public Administration Select Committee’s report into the investigation of clinical incidents (HC886, 27 March 2015), all of which had been published earlier that year. The themes identified in “Learning not Blaming” were similar to those found in Sir Robert Francis’s report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, in particular the repeated failure of professionals to heed the concerns of their patients and of their colleagues. The Government has supported the health and care system in successfully making the culture changes that Sir Robert called for. Although the journey outlined in these reports is still under way, the system continues to make significant and worthwhile progress, which the Government wholeheartedly support, including: - consolidating NHS provider regulation into one organisation – NHS Improvement (NHSI) – that will lead the development of a culture that focuses on improving outcomes, efficiency and fairness; and that, in doing so, emphasises learning from experience; - locating the NHS patient safety function in NHSI, and creating a new Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch, headed by an independent chief investigator; - setting up the office of the Independent National Officer, to protect whistleblowers; - reforming the system of midwifery supervision, to bring it into line with other professions; - establishing a global movement to improve patient safety; - leading the development of a more open and transparent approach to the handling of all feedback (including complaints) across the NHS; - starting the process of improving the systematic recording and tracking of perinatal deaths; and - further developing the use of data and insight to inspire improvement in quality and efficiency, and help hospital leaders at Board level to understand what more needs to be done in their organisation to earn the title of ‘learning organisation’. The Government remains committed to creating the safest, highest quality care healthcare services. We have taken the actions necessary to support the health and care system in rising to the challenge of making the journey to putting patients first.

Cytomegalovirus

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus in infants and children.

Jane Ellison: Current UK National Screening Council guidance states that screening for the virus in pregnancy and the neonatal period are not recommended. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline CG62 on Antenatal care states that the available evidence does not support routine cytomegalovirus screening in pregnant women and it should not be offered. NHS England expects trusts to give regard to NICE guidelines.

Cytomegalovirus

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve awareness and education of cytomegalovirus among parents and children.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England's Start4Life Information Service for Parents includes content on hygiene behaviours designed to help prevent the transmission of cytomegalovirus and links to further information on the condition. Advice includes how parents can keep their babies safe by following basic hygiene rules, with particular emphasis on handling nappies, and provides guidance on instilling hygiene behaviours in young children, for example by making hand washing part of their everyday routine.General information about the signs and symptoms of cytomegalovirus is also available on the NHS Choices website at:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cytomegalovirus/Pages/Causes.aspx

NHS: Conditions of Employment

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35252, how many staff in NHS trusts were (a) off-payroll in 2013-14 and (b) paid off-payroll in NHS foundation trusts in 2012-13.

Alistair Burt: This information is not collected centrally. The information provided in answer to Parliamentary Question 35252 related to staff within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance on senior off-payroll engagements. Information on other off-payroll staff with the exception of those providing consultancy services is not disclosed in the accounts of National Health Service organisations and not collected centrally.

Department of Health: Conditions of Employment

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff were paid off-payroll in each agency for which his Department is responsible in each of the last  three financial years for which information is available.

Jane Ellison: The number of people paid off payroll, in both of the Department’s agencies, for the last three financial years are presented in the table below. The information given is an average for each financial year. Off payroll staff includes all agency workers, contractors and consultants. Number of People Paid Off Payroll by Financial YearFinancial YearMedicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory AgencyPublic Health EnglandAverage HeadcountAverage Headcount2013-1441.172792014-1543.331672015-1640.08179 Notes1. An average figure for the year has been used to take account of staff who leave and/or join within the year.2. Headcount refers to the total number of staff in both part-time and full-time employment.3. The figures in the table also includes the off payroll workers earning £220 or more per day and reported separately in the agencies respective annual resource accounts.